THE level of uncertainty about the future means Oxford United’s recruitment planning is limited, according to first team coach Derek Fazackerley.

This time of year usually sees clubs looking to finalise their plans for the summer transfer market.

But the suspension of the season five weeks ago due to the coronavirus pandemic has ground things to a halt.

While the U’s have the luxury of almost unlimited time to research targets, it can only go so far.

Fazackerley said: “In terms of keeping in regular contact with (head of recruitment) Mark Thomas it’s given us time and an opportunity to look at players that are on the radar.

“But it’s difficult at the moment, firstly because we don’t know which division we’re going to be in.

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“Also, you don’t know how much of an impact this (stoppage) is going to have on next season’s budget and whether it will affect the value of players, both going out and coming in. Who knows?”

The unexpected halt to the Sky Bet League One season means the 68-year-old has had extra time to work in the garden at his Lancashire home.

For someone who has spent half a century in the game, the sudden absence of football could lead to frustration.

But Fazackerley knows his problems pale into insignificance given the scale of the situation.

He said: “It’s affected so many people.

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“We moan and groan about it disrupting football, but for an awful lot of people it’s disrupting their careers and they will be in a much more difficult situation than we find ourselves in.

“Of course we all want to see football up and running again, but only when it’s safe and right to do so and when everybody else has got sorted out as well.

“The damage it’s doing to careers and the economy is huge.

“We tend to look at football because we’re involved in it, but it’s a minor thing compared to what some people are having to put up with.

“For a lot of people it will be a great miss, but eventually it will be up and running again.”

When the season does restart, the general consensus at the moment is it will most likely be played behind closed doors.

As with everyone else involved in the game, Fazackerley would prefer to have the crowds.

But if it does happen, the players will have to be prepared.

“I’ve played in plenty of empty stadiums,” Fazackerley joked.

“You play in pre-season friendlies and the Football League Trophy where the crowds are small, but to play in a completely empty stadium would be strange.

“It would be a big disappointment to the fans.

“It will be difficult for the players, but if it’s a way of getting back to playing football a bit sooner then it’s something we’d have to get used to.”