Matt Bloomfield gives his first sit down interview on becoming the new head coach of Oxford United, replacing Gary Rowett.
He will watch Oxford’s FA Cup Third Round tie against MK Dons from the stands before taking his first training session next week.
The team are currently sit second-bottom in the Championship, with 22 points from 25 games played, and are 3 points form safety.
CLUB STATEMENT:
Oxford United are delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Bloomfield as Head Coach of the Men’s First Team.
The 41-year-old brings significant coaching and playing experience, having taken charge of more than 150 EFL matches as a Head Coach with Colchester United, Wycombe Wanderers, and Luton Town, alongside more than 500 appearances as a player.
Bloomfield will watch tonight’s FA Cup Third Round tie against MK Dons from the stands, before taking charge of First Team training next week ahead of his home debut versus Bristol City.
Speaking after his appointment, Matt Bloomfield said: “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Oxford United.
“This felt like the right place at the right time. Oxford United are a Club with good foundations, ambition, and a playing group with significant potential, and that matches exactly where I am as a coach.
“I want my teams to work hard, attack with purpose, and play with a clear identity. Everyone has to understand their role, be accountable, and deliver consistently.
“I can’t wait to get out onto the grass and begin working with the players and staff to help this Club push forward this season and beyond.”
Oxford United Head of Football Operations, Ed Waldron, said: “We are really pleased to welcome Matt to Oxford United.
“It was important that we conducted a thorough recruitment process and took our time over this appointment. Matt stood out for his attention to detail, work ethic, and his strong belief in building success the right way. He is a coach with a very clear idea of how he wants his teams to play.
“He has a proven track record of developing both teams and individuals through strong leadership and communication, and we believe he is the right person to strengthen the group now and moving forward.
“We will work closely with Matt to give him every opportunity to succeed, including supporting him during the January transfer window, where we have already brought in two exciting players.”
An announcement regarding any additions to Matt’s coaching staff will be made in due course.
Welcome to Oxford United, Matt.
BLOOMFIELD’S INTERVIEW:
Interviewer: Matt, welcome to Oxford United. How delighted and proud are you to have this opportunity?
Matt: Yeah, incredibly so. Incredibly proud, incredibly excited to be here. It just feels right. It’s the right opportunity for me at the right time. Obviously being at home for Christmas and having a couple of months to really reflect on the first three years of my managerial career. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot over that time and I can’t wait to be able to put that into practise here at Oxford United.
Interviewer: You spoke there about the learning you’ve had to this period in time. How have those experiences and opportunities made you feel like this is the right time to really attack at Oxford United?
Matt: Yeah, I think you’re always learning and when you work in management there’s not a huge amount of time to reflect. So I’ve actually really enjoyed a period of time to really zoom out and look at what I’ve done over three years and what I need to improve on and what’s gone well and what I can take on to the next opportunity when it arises. I think it’s about feeling as well. Feeling the people that you want to work with and work for and the right opportunity coming up when you feel like you’re ready for it. When the phone rang about coming to meet Ed and coming to meet the owner, it felt like the right opportunity and I’m so incredibly pleased to be given this opportunity here.
Interviewer: You’ve crossed paths with the club on many occasions throughout your career. Now you’ve got the opportunity to lead this club. What can the Oxford United supporters expect to see from your leadership?
Matt: Yeah, I think the fact that I’ve lived so much of my life in the area nearby. I lived in Thame, I’ve lived in Reading, I’ve lived around the area. So I know the area. I feel comfortable with coming back around here, being in battle against Oxford United so many times over the years. I think what I stand for is hard work, integrity, team first at all times. I will give this job everything I’ve got. When I’m in work, I’m dedicated to the cause and I’ll leave no stone unturned to make this job right. I know that there’s a big job ahead, but I’m excited to do it. I really believe in what we’re going to achieve in the next few months. I know that our supporters are going to enjoy watching our team and I can’t wait to put that on show for them.
Interviewer: The work ethic, the purpose all comes across there in what you’re saying. What do you want and what’s important to you to implement on day one when you get on the grass with the boys?
Matt: Organisation and structure and the team being at the forefront of everything that the players do. They’ll know that that’s what I stand for and they’ll understand that. They need to be disciplined in their work, but I want the players to enjoy what they do as well. I think that there’s a real freedom that comes with enjoying your work. I want our attacking players to really feel a freedom at the top of the pitch. But I also know that there’s going to be games where we’re going to have to be really organised and disciplined in our shape because of the league we’re playing in and the opposition and who we’re up against. But I want us to be purposeful with what we do in and out of possession to make sure we’re purposeful and try and create attacking opportunities as much as we possibly can.
Interviewer: When you get to work with the boys, how and what do you want to mention and what you want to get across? What are those non-negotiables for you that you want to make sure is unnamed from day one?
Matt: The team being at the heart of everything that they do and everything that we do. The badge that we work for is the most important thing to all of us. Hard work, integrity, understanding your role within the team and being courageous when we’re out on the pitch. Being willing to be honest and vulnerable at times as well, asking questions, understanding what we’re all trying to go and do and what we’re trying to put into practise on a Saturday is vital. Knowing their role within the team and being able to execute it. There’s a lot of work to do. I want to build connections with the players as quickly as possible because I know that when you have strong connections you can push people further. And I want to build a connection with our supporters because I know how much of a proud football club this is and I know what it stands for and I’m really pleased to be here and I want to represent our club with so much credibility and so much enjoyment for our supporters to watch.
Interviewer: How do you assess the squads coming in because coming into this position you must be full of belief that this group right now has what it takes to get us out of this position?
Matt: Absolutely and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that because I could have sat at home and watched from afar and I didn’t want to do that. When the phone call came in I wanted to get right in the middle of the fight and I believe in the group we’ve got. We’ve added one or two already and we’ll add one or two more which we’re working on behind the scenes already. I know there’s a lot of talent within the squad and I believe we can get more out of them. That work has started already as you mentioned.
Interviewer: How do you feel the support has been from Ed Waldron and the others at the club to give you the best opportunity of success from day one?
Matt: Yeah, incredible. The moment I met Ed I could see what a character he was, what his integrity and honesty, the way he presented himself in the football club and the way he represented the football club was incredible. I felt a real connection with him already. I know a few of the staff members already from previous interactions, Scott Mitchell, Lewis Price, Chris Hackett. So I know quite a few of the guys already which is nice. A couple of the playing squad as well. So we’ve been working in the office today, looking at the squad, discussing, debating, evaluating. So then we’ve got obviously not a huge amount of time to make sure we execute that in the window. We need to make sure we come out of the window stronger than what we went into it.
Interviewer: The work starts immediately as we’ve mentioned. We’ve got two home games coming up for you against Bristol City and QPR. Such an amazing opportunity to have that connection with the supporters and try and hit the ground running.
Matt: Yeah, connection for me and people, I love building that in football. As a kid watching Ipswich Town during my playing career with Wycombe Wanderers and lastly with my management jobs. I think it’s really important that you have that connection because as I’ve said earlier on, life is about people. I feel, believe that life is about sharing it with good people and trying to build something amazing and that’s what I’m here to do. I want to build something amazing. I want to connect with our supporters. I want them to enjoy their team and I want them to believe in what we’re doing. So it’s up to us to get to work as quickly as we possibly can, execute what we believe in and I really want to build a connection with those guys so they can be proud of their team. We know where we are in the table, it’s clear.
Interviewer: Your leadership doesn’t seem to shy away from that whatsoever. How ready are you to get to work?
Matt: Yeah, I’m ready. Two out of the three jobs I’ve taken have been third from bottom in the league that I’ve taken it and this is the third one out of four. I never shy away from a challenge. I didn’t want to sit at home and just wait for something comfortable. I wanted to get my hands dirty. I wanted to get back in the fight. I’m ready to be here. We’re full of enthusiasm and energy. A couple of months at home, I love spending time with my kids but it’s refreshed me and I’m ready to go and I can’t wait to get to work.
Here’s how fans reacted as Matt Bloomfield gives his first interview on becoming the new Oxford United head coach…
@TheMarchOfTheOx: Excited by this. Impressive interview on OUTV and think it could be a really good fit if we get behind him and the team! Looking forward to seeing what his team looks like next week #oufc
@RML01_2002: Back him or fuck off – a lot of our fans had the same reaction when Rowett came in, but he kept us up. Give Matt a chance, he’s only just got through the bloody door. #OUFC
@Brad_Pittick99: BLOOMFIELDS YELLOW ARMY 💛 Im pretty happy with this appointment. Young gaffer who’s taking on a big job and personally think with some backing could be just as good for us in League One if we do go down!!! COYY #OUFC 💛💙
@rowanpowell4: #oufc bet we win a couple games and all these lot slagging him off love him
@Wellsy_OX: Terrific guy and great coach, good luck Blooms
@LukeNigel_: Let’s get behind him. Welcome to Oxford Matt. Look forward to seeing what you can build! #OUFC
@dan_willo94: May not have been what everyone wanted but now time to get behind him and the team! #OUFC #COYY 💛
@Dannyoufc: Get Bloomfield in that away end tonight #oufc
@Bloomers87: You know what. If we go down playing attractive football under Bloomfield, so be it. I actually think Rowett was hung out to dry, but there’s no denying his brand of football was horrifically bad to watch #oufc
@Dannyoufc: Wouldn’t have been my first choice. but all we can do is back him and hopefully does enough to get us over the line. Welcome Matt #oufc
@JYOUFC: Far from exciting appointment considering he took Luton down last year. But lets see how he does, deserves our backing, but he has to get results from day 1! #oufc
@DanielClarke9: Uninspiring. Yes Does the man deserve a chance. Yes Time to come together. Yes Up the bastards in yellow and blue. #oufc
@gabrielbeech5: Welcome Matt !! Let’s back him and see what he can do we could’ve made far worse appointments than him. Excited to see what he can do. Matt Bloomfields yellow army 🎶 #oufc