DES Buckingham is looking to take full advantage of Oxford United having no midweek game, with regard to his coaching set-up and in the transfer market.
Last week, U’s chief executive Tim Williams revealed in a statement published on the club website that Chris Hackett would be assuming the role of Buckingham’s assistant.
Academy coach Hackett has been supporting the first team since Buckingham was appointed head coach in November, with United’s backroom staff light after both Chris Hogg and James Krause left for Bristol City alongside Liam Manning.
However, after the U’s were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at AFC Wimbledon, Buckingham hinted that Hackett’s announcement may have been revealed earlier than it should’ve been.
Providing an update on both his backroom coaching staff, plus the January transfer window, Buckingham said: “It’ll be a much welcome week to sit down and sort everything out.
“In terms of staff, Chris Hackett will join the first team staff and we’ll work out what that looks like this week.
“He’s stepped up, and when you look at bringing people in, the last six or seven weeks, how Craig Short, Lewis Price, Chris Hackett and myself have all worked together, it’s grown very strong and we’re very clear on what we want to do, and how that looks together.
“With Chris, the skillset he has as a coach, I can’t stress he’s a wonderful coach and he certainly fits what we want to do.
“He’ll join our group, and he’s been very good there, and then player-wise, we’re still in the market and we’re still looking.
“We’re hopeful to have someone in by the weekend. We’ve done as much as we can, and we’ll now wait and see.”
United have added goalkeeper Jamie Cumming and forward Tyler Burey, on loan from Chelsea and Danish side Odense, to their squad so far this month.
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