Oxford United: Jerome Sale looks at where it went wrong for Gary Rowett

It felt like a “back me or sack me” interview that he gave to BBC Radio Oxford. Erick Thohir, the club’s owner, after consultation with his senior management team in Oxford, chose the latter.

“I’m a head coach and have been for a long time,” Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford after Saturday’s defeat by Charlton Athletic.

“The job’s really simple, if you don’t win games of football then someone either backs you in the transfer window that you’re going to change things, or changes it.

“We all know the game and we all see it, I’ve had no indication from the club for either of those situations which is quite frustrating.

“The club needs a lift and I think it needs investment in January, I think it’s quite clear that the club need help and that extra little bit on the pitch, the only way to do that is go and spend some money and bring some of those players in.”

Changing the head coach may of course mean changing January window targets – some not all.

The plans for existing players may change for United, or if they are loan players, the plans of their parent clubs might.

Will available funds be increased? Recruitment these days is, of course, not completely the head coach’s domain but they clearly have to have a significant input.

All is by no-means lost but if United are to make a fist of again beating the odds to survive in the Championship, they have to nail the January window AND the recruitment of Rowett’s replacement.

United’s head of football operations Ed Waldron is leading on both, and though the final call with be Thohir’s, it is Waldron’s time to shine.

The club have to get it right or Rowett’s parting shots will echo long after his departure.

When Buckingham was sacked a year ago, Rowett had been appointed in time for the next game.

That won’t happen again but Oxford – who have won just one match in 10 – clearly will have considered where they would turn if they decided to roll the dice again.

While Christmas won’t be a time of relaxation for any at the club, I would expect to see the hot seat filled before most people are back at work after the New Year’s celebrations.