A solution to Oxford United's match day bus crisis is still "some way" off, says a public transport chief, despite a "useful" meeting on the issue.

Yesterday, Oxford United Football Club met representatives of Oxford Bus Company at the stadium to discuss how hundreds of fans can get to the ground in Blackbird Leys using public transport.

One of the options is that the club subsidises a match day bus service, effectively meaning United pays for its supporters to get to the stadium.

The row over match day transport has escalated after Oxford City Council flexed its muscles and threatened court action unless United abides by the letter of a legal contract signed when planning permission was given for the Kassam Stadium in 1996.

As part of that consent the club has to provide details of dedicated services running on match days between the stadium and specific locations.

But 10 games into the season the Town Hall has received no such information and fans have to make their own way to the ground.

Oxford Bus Company, which has no legal obligation to provide a service, used to run so-called Football Specials, but stopped them after they made a loss.

Fans can now catch a bus into Oxford and a connection to Blackbird Leys for £2.50, but have to walk to the ground rather than being dropped off outside the turnstiles.

Nigel Eggleton, Oxford Bus Company commercial director, said: "We are not obliged to provide anything but are aware of the many comments made after the withdrawal of the service, but we are some way from a solution.

"We have met representatives of Oxford United to discuss the match day transport links to the Kassam Stadium.

"We have a thorough understanding of each other's point of view and the discussion was extremely useful.

"Both the club and the bus company have gone away to consider the next steps and will meet again within the next fortnight."

The city council's chief planner, Michael Crofton-Briggs, has written to the club reminding officials of their legal obligation and said the authority was prepared to take the club to court.

As first reported in last week's Oxford Mail a court could yet sanction the closure of the Kassam Stadium for United's home matches -- although the club maintains that is an extremely unlikely outcome.

Kassam Stadium manager Steve Hanks added: "It was a constructive meeting that looked at some of the issues the bus company have and we hope to see positive movement in the near future.

"We do appreciate that time is of the essence from the fans' perspective and the city council's perspective.

"We will make all endeavours to move forward to a successful outcome."