Oxford United seem certain to be asked by the Football Association to explain their poor disciplinary record.

Nine of their players and management team have been sent off this season, although one of them, Wayne Hatswell, is the subject of an appeal by the club.

United have never had so many sent off in one season - and we're only in October.

Mick Brown, the Oxford United secretary, confirmed: "The regulations state that, at the end of the season, any club which is appreciably higher than the average in the number of disciplinary points it accumulates, will be taken to task.

"With our current disciplinary record, I think there is every chance we will be up before the FA. In the 20 years I've been involved with the club we've never been in this position before, so from that point, we have got a good past record," Brown said.

The nine include manager Mark Wright, dismissed near the end of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Scunthorpe, and assistant manager Ted McMinn, red-carded during the 3-2 defeat at Exeter.

It also includes striker Phil Gray, who was sent off in his first match on loan for Boston United. But an FA spokesman said last night that this would not count against Oxford.

United have had two players sent off in each of the last two league games, against Lincoln and Scunthorpe.

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