fighting

fund bails out United Oxford United's non-playing staff were dramatically bailed out yesterday - by the fans' fighting fund Sous.

Two trustees of Save Oxford United Soccer - organiser Terry Gardener and treasurer Geoff Joynson - handed over a cheque for £10,000 to staff at the Manor Ground.

It followed the collapse of winger Joey Beauchamp's move to Southampton which was to have raised several hundred pounds for the cash-strapped club and helped to pay wages.

The 22 full-time and eight part-time non-playing staff had not been paid for two months and the fund meant the full-timers received an estimated £350 each.

Mr Gardner said: "That's what this fund is for - to provide a bit of a cushion and short-term help. We're not looking at the full-time situation of rescuing the club, just at the short-term aim of buying time for everyone.

"It's something rather than nothing," he added. "At least it's a help. The money was going to be handed over some time anyway, we've just helped out sooner rather than later after this transfer deal collapsed."

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