AFTER a dismal run of defeats — especially away from home — the axe was always hovering perilously close to Darren Patterson’s head. Last night, it finally fell.

Football, as we so often hear, is a results business and sadly they have not been of the right sort for Oxford United. Saturday’s loss at Torquay in the FA Cup was the last straw and new chairman Kelvin Thomas has acted swiftly.

But what now? With Jim Smith, who Patterson replaced last year, back at the helm it’s something like back to the future. Life in the non-league ain’t easy.

Many fans thought the team would go straight back up, but any seasoned spectator of lower league football will tell you it doesn’t work like that.

Many teams promoted from the Conference, or the Blue Square Premier as it is now, stay up while those that come down rarely bounce straight back.

Since Ian Atkins left in March 2004, United have had seven managers — including Patterson twice as temporary manager.

The consensus among fans is they want a battler, someone seasoned at this level. Who said football was a merry-go-round?