Next Oxford United manager: Ex-Millwall and Derby County man in 'advanced talks' to join Championship side

Former Millwall, Derby County and Stoke City boss Gary Rowett is reportedly in “advanced talks” to join Championship side Oxford United after Des Buckingham was sacked by the club on Sunday.

The U’s dismissed Buckingham after a 3-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday which left the club with just one win from 15 games. They are just one point above the bottom three. They were promoted via the League One play-offs last term as they beat Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. Rowett has not held a permanent management position since leaving Millwall in 2023. He did spend the end of last season in interim charge of Birmingham City but was unable to stop the club from being relegated to the third tier.

Daily and Sunday Telegraph journalist John Percy has reported that Rowett is close to a return to management with Oxford with advanced discussions taking place between the parties. The club are said to want somebody with Championship experience - something Rowett has plenty of. He has taken charge of 370 games in the second tier, with 144 wins, 120 draws and 106 losses. He has managed Birmingham, Derby, Stoke and Millwall in the Championship while also spending two years in charge of Burton Albion when the club was in League Two.

Speaking recently, Rowett said he was ready to get back into management. He told GiveMeSport last month: “I’ve been out of work on three different occasions. The first time I just waited for my agent to call and it felt terrible. Now I’ve worked out how to manage my time more effectively. I don’t just sit by the phone hoping it rings. The next opportunity will come when it comes. Usually you get offered work. In fact, I could have been back in a job just days after leaving Millwall, but it’s about waiting for the right opportunity. That’s the biggest challenge for any manager out of work.

“I have an agent who does the work for me and contacts clubs who have a vacancy. I’m running out of Midlands clubs! But what I would say is that Coventry is a big club. Coventry would be a fantastically attractive club for any Championship manager. And Burton Albion is another one. I have been there before and helped them out. I also worked in London for four years with Millwall, which was a great experience for me on and off the pitch. I am not specific about the geography. It just has to be a project that appeals to me and one where I feel I can make an impact.

“I have worked within the top ten of the Championship for the last ten years. I have had that element of success around the top half of the Championship. So that’s the obvious aim, to be working with a team capable of competing for promotion to the Premier League. My passion has always been to help build things and find the right plan and pieces of the jigsaw to improve a team – from both a coaching and man-management perspective. I am passionate about that side of the job. I have to go somewhere where I feel I can have a real impact, whether Championship, League One, Europe or MLS. It’s just got to be somewhere I feel I can help. And just talking about it, I can’t wait to be back in the right role.”