DARRYL Eales is in no mood to hurry the appointment of the next Oxford United manager.

After returning to the UK over the weekend, United’s chairman was at the training ground yesterday.

It was the first time he had visited since Pep Clotet was sacked just over a fortnight ago.

Despite numerous approaches from the Oxford Mail, no-one at board level has said anything publicly since United published a short statement saying they had taken the decision in the “best interests of the club”.

But Eales did respond briefly to a request yesterday, saying he was pleased to find a “very positive vibe” at Roman Way.

And in the wake of Saturday’s 3-2 win at Charlton Athletic, the U’s owner gave his support to the work caretaker manager Derek Fazackerley was doing.

He said: “From my perspective, there is no rush.

“I am very happy with Faz being in charge pro tem (for the time being).”

With the Charlton result taking the pressure off the situation and lifting the mood around the club, the comments indicate the process of deciding Clotet’s permanent successor still has some way to run.

It is unclear at this stage whether Fazackerley will have the chance to build on the victory at the Valley by still being in charge for the visit of Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

But Eales’s response suggests a report in one national newspaper yesterday that David Unsworth was all set to be announced was premature.

The Everton Under 23 manager remained the favourite with the bookmakers as the Oxford Mail went to press, but he was no longer odds-on.

Former Liverpool and Wales striker Craig Bellamy was the big mover yesterday, with the bookies rating him as the second favourite.

  • GOALKEEPER Max Harris scored the winning penalty as Oxford United Under 18s booked their place in the Southern Area League Cup final next month.

Owen James (2) and Dan Carr scored as the semi-final at Exeter City ended 3-3, with the U’s going on to win 10-9 on spot-kicks.