OXFORD United's new chairman says his most important task is to reach out to the fans.

And he started working on that immediately – setting up meetings with supporters today.

Kelvin Thomas, who is taking over as chairman from Nick Merry in an apparent fire-fighting role, to ensure the club can survive the rest of this season and still pay its staff and the rent for the Kassam Stadium, stressed how dialogue with the public was of paramount importance.

Although Thomas didn't want to say it, Merry had not been good in communicating with the fans when the pressures of the job increased, and the new chairman wants to address that.

And he believes there are potential investors out there in Oxfordshire that Woodstock Partners would love to have on board.

"We have very high expenditure at the football club, what we need to do is raise the levels of income," he said.

"The medium-term prospects for the club look very encouraging, but there are short-term issues, and it's part of my job to find the short-term investment we need.

"I believe that it is possible, by re-engaging with fans, improving performances on the pitch and involving individuals or groups who may wish to purchase a shareholding of the club, to take us through to that medium-term point.

"It's a call-out to anyone who would be interested to help Oxford United. Woodstock Partners are very open to potential investors coming on board."

Woodstock Partners is the company which owns Oxford United FC. It was set up by Nick Merry and Ian Lenagan, who both have a 50 per cent stake.

Under Merry, United were criticised for not continuing to hold regular fans' forums this season, when it was clear times were getting hard, both on the pitch and with the club's worsening financial position.

Thomas has set aside time at the beginning and end of today to discuss issues with any fans who wish to voice concerns about any aspect of the club. Fans can do so by making an appointment with Mary Page at Oxford United to book a lot to speak directly to the new chairman.

"We have to understand that the fans are our customer base," said Thomas.

"The fans have been fantastic. Of course there is criticism levelled at various aspects of the management and the club, but in totality they have been fantastic.

"My message is 'come and talk to us' – we want you to help. Come to the game on Saturday, keep supporting us, and if you want to help out by investing in any form, show us who you are, I'll be accessible."

Thomas, who said he was "excited" by the challenges ahead, admitted that his talks with stadium owner Firoz Kassam over the rent the club must pay, and other issues, will be critical to the club's short-term survival.

If Oxford United can't pay the £468,000 rent and end up folding, that is clearly no good for Kassam to have no football club at the stadium. And by the same token, it isn't much good to United if Kassam is at loggerheads with his tenants and the club have nowhere to play.

"We understand the importance of that relationship," Thomas stressed. "Maybe Firoz has the lock and we hold the key, or maybe it's the other way around."

Thomas, who is putting his other business interests on hold and leaving them to colleagues back in Florida, is determined to put his expertise to good use at United.

"I'd like to be able to say, when in ten years' time Oxford United is in a much higher division, that I was a part of that."