Oxford set to appoint little-known manager and PILOT from Indian Super League as replacement for Liam Manning

OXFORD are set to appoint Des Buckingham as their new boss.

The Englishman, 38, has been carving out an impressive reputation for himself at Mumbai City, the Indian side in Manchester City‘s City Football Group’s roster of clubs.

Oxford United seem to have found Liam Manning’s replacementGetty

Oxford are set to appoint Des Buckingham as their new managerGetty

SunSport understands the League One high-fliers are set to pay a hefty compensation fee of around £400,000 to take Buckingham from Mumbai.

Buckingham, who is a qualified pilot, was born in Oxford and was in United’s youth side as a kid goalkeeper.

He began his coaching career with the club at just 18, working with the younger age groups before progression to the first team when Chris Wilder was in charge.

In 2015 he moved to Wellingham Phoenix in New Zealand, first as assistant and then as manager two years later, becoming the youngest boss in A-League history aged just 31.

He returned to England in 2017 as Stoke’s Under-23s assistant coach but then returned to New Zealand with their national side.

That is where he undertook a host of roles, including a brief stint as caretaker boss of the seniors.

In 2020, he went to Melbourne City – another team in the stable of City’s umbrella group CFG.

There he worked as an assistant, before going to Mumbai a year later.

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Oxford are currently second in League One but lost boss Liam Manning to Bristol City earlier this month.

The U’s have amassed a total of 11 wins and three losses out of 16 matches.

Oxford are only one point away from third-tier leaders Portsmouth.