'DON'T give up on us' was the plea from Oxford United fans to Firoz Kassam.

Messages of support for the club's owner poured in to the Oxford Mail following yesterday's events in the High Court.

Kassam has hinted that he may sell up and walk away from the Manor, but desperate U's fans were last night urging him to stay.

"Do not give these vultures circling the club the pleasure of seeing their actions kill the club we love," said Chris Day.

"Despite the blackness of outlook right now, the club has come through dark days before, and I believe that we can do it again.

"Though you have perhaps not been an Oxford fan as long as the rest of us, I hope you can understand now what this club means to us."

Trevor Lambert said that all United fans appreciated that Kassam was, first and foremost, a businessman.

But he added: "I'm sure that as a football club chairman, you will have learnt of the special importance of the club to its local community.

"The fan base will accept that the price to pay for the club continuing to exist may be that we will have to sell our better players, and that this may mean a period in Division 3.

"Though unpalatable, this is far preferable to going out of business. Don't admit defeat!"

Andrew Hill praised Kassam's, saying he had achieved more in the last year than any other chairman in the club's recent history.

"You have been badly let down by Oxford City Council," Hill added. "But you must believe that your vision for the club is still attainable.

"We will always stand by our club. We will help you in every way we can. If we stick together we will make it. Please do not let us down!"

Story date: Saturday 18 March

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.