Oxford United’s Fan Advisory Board has criticised chairman Dusan Bogdanovic after he withdrew from a scheduled meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice. The group has demanded an update on several outstanding issues following the late change.
The FAB said its chair was informed by club staff shortly before Tuesday evening’s match that Bogdanovic was in Indonesia and would not attend the meeting arranged for 28 October. It said the chairman had proposed the date himself, with the appointment agreed three weeks earlier.
Fan Advisory Board Challenges Chairman
The withdrawal has prompted renewed questions about communication between the club’s leadership and supporters. The FAB highlighted the registration embargo, progress on the new stadium and the executive structure following Tim Williams’ departure and Adam Benson’s impending exit as matters requiring answers.
Bogdanovic met the chairs of the FAB and supporters’ trust OxVox in July, when he asked them to judge him on his actions. According to the FAB, a subsequent communications plan included a commitment to attend its next quarterly meeting.
“The timing, method and content of this is wholly unacceptable to FAB. The date was provided by Mr Bogdanovic and agreed three weeks ago.
“He issued a communications plan in August in which he committed to attending the next FAB quarterly meeting. With less than 24 hours notice he has withdrawn from that meeting. Actions speak louder than words.”
The FAB said it would seek to rearrange the meeting at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, it urged Bogdanovic to provide an overdue update to supporters on the issues it had identified.
Wider Concerns Over Club Communication
The Manor Podcast also criticised the handling of the withdrawal, arguing that encouraging performances under head coach Aaron Ramsey should not prevent scrutiny of events away from the pitch. Its statement raised questions about progress towards lifting the embargo, responsibility for liaising with the EFL and plans to fill the chief executive position.
It also highlighted Benson’s forthcoming move to Burton Albion, where he is due to become chief executive in late December. The podcast said supporters had been left without sufficient communication from Oxford United about changes to the senior leadership.
“Of course, communication of sensitive matters needs to be carefully managed and timed. But the consistent theme is no communication.”
The dispute follows Bogdanovic’s public apology in July after the club was placed under a registration embargo for failing to comply with the EFL’s Salary Cost Management Protocol regulations. He acknowledged the uncertainty caused and said the shareholders remained committed to supporting the club following relegation from the Championship.
The proposed 16,000-capacity stadium is another issue on which the FAB wants clarity. In his July letter, Bogdanovic described securing a new ground as the cornerstone of the club’s long-term strategy.
The FAB’s account makes the late withdrawal particularly difficult to justify, given the chairman’s earlier commitment and his role in choosing the date. Rearranging the meeting promptly and providing clear updates on the embargo, stadium and executive appointments would give supporters something concrete against which to judge the promised improvement in communication.