TIME is running out for Oxford United's fourth stand to be built before the derby against Swindon Town, club bosses warn.

U's managing director Greig Box Turnbull said "everything was in place" for the work to be done but the buck stopped with stadium owner Firoz Kassam.

The club wants to build a 735-seat stand and contractors said yesterday the work could be done in a day.

But there are fears it will not be ready for the September 10 crunch clash after talks between the club and Mr Kassam earlier this month failed to end in agreement.

The Swindon derby match is expected to be a sell-out

Mr Box Turnbull said despite the delays, the club remained "patient and hopeful" a deal would be struck.

He added: "We are committed to the project and have invested a lot of resource into it, so we would love to see it happen.

Oxford Mail:

  • Oxford United managing director Greig Box Turnbull

"We have always maintained it would only be possible if we received an agreement from the stadium company and that remains the case.

"They are still considering the proposal, which is wrapped up in a number of stadium-related discussions and so we remain patient and hopeful.

"As a football club we have done all have can. It felt right at the outset it was a sensible approach to conduct all of the required detailed research, appoint the right experts and get everything in place so that should we receive the required permission we are ready to proceed."

But when contacted by the Oxford Mail, Mr Kassam said he could not comment on the plans.

He said: "I have got nothing to say. I have no details."

So far the club has submitted a planning application to the city council for the stand, which would be primarily used to house away supporters.

The six-row stand would cost the League One club £120,000 over three seasons and the board said they would need five or six sell-outs a season to break even.

Fans raised concerns about the lack of progress on the fourth stand.

Oxford Mail:

  • Firoz Kassam, former Oxford United owner and owner of the Kassam Stadium

Sales director of Arena Seating, Dave Wilthey, said the stand could be erected, adding that all the relevant parts were in stock.

He said: "We are just waiting to get the go ahead from the club. We are vastly experienced and can build it very quickly. We are ready as soon as the club call."

Bicester barber and fan Andy Willis, 38, said he thought the stand would have been built by now, adding "time was of the essence" for the derby game.

He added: "To be honest I'm not quite sure what the hold up is. We are not far away from the Swindon game and it's been going on for a number of months.

"If the football club is going to move forward then it is going to need this fourth stand. We don't want the club to lose out on money.

"For the first time in however many years we are in League One and we will be losing money from the big games because we don't have a fourth stand.

"If the reason for the delay is Mr Kassam it's very poor from him. We warrant a fourth stand, but until we own our own ground there are always going to be these problems."

Oxford Mail:

  • The Kassam Stadium, where Oxford United wants a fourth stand

Mr Box Turnbull earlier said all the contractors, suppliers and provisions for seating, turnstiles and catering were "all lined up".

He said: "Everything is in place. We are just waiting for that permission from the stadium company."

Mr Box Turnbull said they could erect it and use it before getting full approval but would need permission to use it long-term.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price previously said they were "strongly supportive of the club's aspiration to continue its ascent through the leagues".

A decision on the stand was expected to take a maximum of eight weeks after it was submitted on July 29.

The Kassam Stadium currently has a capacity of 12,500. It hosted its first football match on August 4, 2001 – a pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace.

The extra seats would take the capacity up to 13,235, with scope to build permanent stand to create a 15,000-seater stadium, which already has permission.