STRATFIELD Brake remains on the table in Oxford United’s search to find a new stadium, members of the club’s board have said.

Speaking at a fans’ forum event at Hawkwell House Hotel in Iffley, both chairman Grant Ferguson and chief strategy officer Niall McWilliams were quizzed on both Stratfield Brake and ‘The Triangle’.

Stratfield Brake, south of Kidlington, was initially proposed by United.

Plans include an 18,000-capacity stadium, community and sports grounds, plus hotel, retail and conference facilities, subject to planning permission.

An alternative site, The Triangle, was identified by Oxfordshire County Council officers last week.

The alternative site is located south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road and east of Frieze Way.

The county council’s cabinet is set to make a decision on January 24, about whether to enter formal negotiations regarding leasing council-owned land at The Triangle to the U’s for the development of a new stadium.

On the latest with stadium plans, Ferguson said: “We’re still working through what the options are.

“Stratfield Brake is having to be refocussed and that allows a fantastic opportunity.

“The challenges with Stratfield Brake as a whole were a lot.

“Stratfield Brake hasn’t gone away as an option.

“We will get it right, and that’s by consulting as many people as possible, including the people in this room.”

United’s chairman added: “We’re very keen to find as many ways as possible to engage with fans, this is one way to do that.”

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On the search for a new stadium, McWilliams said: “You’ve been patient and brilliant for so long. We just need a little bit of time to get the detail for you and when we do get that, we will give it to you.

“Stratfield Brake hasn’t gone off the table. The triangular piece of land, there’s no sub-leases and is owned by the county council.

“We know there’s a great deal of support in the local area.

“To me, it’s pretty clear there’ll be a decision on the 24th.

“This isn’t just about the football, this is about providing international quality sporting facilities.

“When we look at The Triangle or wherever we go, we’ll be looking at opening the doors to the community.

“We’ll look at the Women’s team to play at our stadium because they’re unbelievable.”

Last week, the county council said ‘considerable challenges’ had come up with the Stratfield Brake proposal.

A council statement read: “The decision about whether or not to enter into formal negotiations with Oxford United about the lease of land will be taken in public at a cabinet meeting on January 24.

“It is important to recognise that a decision by cabinet would not give a green light to go ahead with the development of the stadium.

“This would be subject to the full democratic planning process, led by the local planning authority Cherwell District Council.”