1998–99 Oxford United F.C. season

During October 1998, the backroom staff at Oxford United were unpaid due to the club's financial situation with the new stadium; the threat of administration caused a group of fans to set up a pressure group called Fighting for Oxford United's Life (FOUL).[1] The group began to publicise the club's plight through a series of meetings and events, including a 'Scarf of Unity', which was a collection of scarfs from various clubs which was long enough to stretch around the perimeter of the pitch.[1] Chairman Robin Herd stepped down to concentrate on his engineering projects, and in April 1999 Firoz Kassam bought Herd's 89.9% controlling interest in Oxford United for £1, with which he also inherited the club's estimated £15 million debt.[2] Kassam reduced the £9 million of the debt to just £900,000, by virtue of a Company Voluntary Arrangement, by which unsecured creditors who were owed over £1,000 were reimbursed with 10p for every pound they were owed.[3] Secured creditors were paid off when Kassam sold the Manor to another of his companies, for £6 million. Kassam set about completing the unfinished stadium, gaining planning permission for a bowling alley, a multiplex cinema, and a hotel to sit next to the stadium, following a series of legal battles which were eventually all settled.[4] The season ended with relegation back to the Second Division.

Oxford United's score comes first[5]

[6] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player - GK  ENG Paul Gerrard (on loan from Everton) - DF  ENG Les Robinson - DF  ENG Phil Gilchrist - DF  CAN Mark Watson - MF  ENG Paul Powell - MF  ENG Martin Gray - MF  ENG Joey Beauchamp - FW  ENG Matt Murphy - FW  SCO Andy Thomson - FW  ENG Nicky Banger - MF  ENG Paul Tait - GK  SWE Pål Lundin - DF  ENG Phil Whelan

No. Pos. Nation Player - FW  SKN Kevin Francis - DF  NED Brian Wilsterman - FW  WAL Rob Folland - DF  FRA Christophe Rémy - FW  ENG Jamie Cook - MF  ENG Simon Weatherstone - MF  ENG Tony Wright - DF  ENG Mark Warren (on loan from Leyton Orient) - MF  ENG Mickey Lewis - DF  ENG Steve Davis - DF  ENG Andrew Rose - FW  ENG Mike Williams - GK  ENG Elliot Jackson

Left club during the season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player - MF  ENG Danny Hill (to Cardiff City) - GK  ENG Phil Whitehead (to West Bromwich Albion) - DF  ENG Simon Marsh (to Birmingham City)

No. Pos. Nation Player - GK  ENG Mike Salmon (on loan from Charlton Athletic) - MF  ENG David Smith (to Stockport County) - FW  ENG Dean Windass (to Bradford City)