Chairman Nick Merry believes Oxford United are better this season - even though last year they were bigger.

The 2006-7 squad was the largest in the Nationwide Conference, but it fell just short of achieving promotion back to the Football League.

Now, preparing for the start of his second full season as the club's chairman, Merry said he was genuinely delighted by what he has seen so far from the players he has brought in over the summer.

"I'm excited about this season and looking forward to August 11," he said. "It's going to be good.

"I think we've got the quality this year, maybe we didn't have that last year. We had more quantity than quality.

"If you've seen these boys play - the new signings - they're showing their potential. They're quality players and will do a good team job for us."

United may just be physically better able to cope with the demands of a long season, and of some of their powerful opponents as well, he feels.

"I think we'll be stronger," he added.

"Having experienced a year in the Conference, that attribute is probably an asset to have."

And, of course, everyone at Oxford United knows a little bit more about what it takes to get out of the division, although by the same token they will no longer be an unknown quantity to the clubs they meet.

Says Merry: "I think the players, the staff, everybody involved, will have learned from last year.

"From a players' standpoint, we now know what we're going out to, whereas last year it was all new to us, so I think that will stand them all in good stead."

And that was a conviction shared by manager Jim Smith, who said: "We all learned from last year.

"We're going to places that we know more about this year and we know what to expect, although we did really well, it was a good season. But when you've only got one to go up, it makes it very difficult."

Alongside Merry there is no longer director Kelvin Thomas, but co-owner and partner Ian Lenagan is taking a much more public role, as witnessed after the pre-season friendly against Wycombe last Friday when he was seen happily chatting to numerous United supporters.

And Ian's son, Simon, is actively involved in youth and community development.

So how is the health of Oxford United Football Club at this moment?

"We're just continuing with our plan," Merry said. "Everything is going as we budgeted and planned for, so that's really all you could ask for."

Part of the plan - a significant part - is the acquisition of the stadium from former chairman Firoz Kassam.

Without that, it's probably very hard for Oxford United Football Club to generate the income it needs to really push on.

But maybe the impasse over the stadium will not last for ever.