Who Are... Oxford United FC?
Managed for the latter stages of the season by Jim Smith, Oxford United were just one of a handful of teams who went into the final day of the 2005/6 season in League Two that could have been relegated. However, needing a win at home to Leyton Orient to have the best chance of staying up given they were trailing behind the pack struggling to stay afloat, a 3-2 defeat was enough to condemn them to the drop alongside Rushden & Diamonds.

Oxford are a side with a great deal of history within the Football League, and have on more than one occasion featured in the top flight of English football. Yet those days are a long way behind us now, and an immediate return in 2007 was thwarted by Exeter City in the playoffs. An unsuccessful 2007/8 campaign led to the departure of manager Jim Smith as the club looked to rally. They managed to fight their way into 9th place, but finished some way off the top five.

Coming into the 2008/9 campaign, Oxford will certainly be hoping for better than last time out. Getting the right squad together will be integral to their chances. The early signs didn't seem to suggest the club will be in a position to mount a sustained promotion push, but as one of the outside bets they could perform very well if things go right.

BoroGuide Prediction: 9th