This is Des Buckingham's first column written exclusively for the Oxford Mail.

First of all, let me say how nice it is to be asked to write a few words each week for the Oxford Mail. It’s good to see that the club and its local paper still have an excellent relationship.

Hopefully, the reports are all positive on Monday as we play our first game today away at Cheltenham. Everything has been building towards kick off and I wanted to take you through how the week has been from my perspective.

I flew back to England from Mumbai eight days ago and went home to see my family for a couple of hours before I spent the afternoon doing interviews for the media.

Last weekend was a chance to catch up on everything and to make plans. I went to watch the youth team play, popped in to see the younger age groups play and also fitted in a few of the things that I’m going to have to do pretty quickly like buy a car and find somewhere to live.

I’ve been away from home for a while and house prices seem to have risen a little since I was last here!

I thought long and hard about what to do on my first day with the players and in the end decided to mainly observe on Monday.

Craig Short and Chris Hackett have done a fantastic job over the last couple of weeks so I wanted to watch them take training and also allow everyone just to get used to having me around.

On Tuesday I took training for the first time and then over the last couple of days I have become gradually more involved. I have enjoyed every minute and the players have been brilliant.

Usually when a manager takes over the team is struggling and you need to make an instant impact but I am lucky enough to be taking over a team that is in great form and a club that seems to be moving forward in everything we do.

It is such a positive place to come to work every day and now it all becomes about transferring the good work on the training pitches into a win at Cheltenham.

It’s not going to be easy. Cheltenham are much improved under their new manager and will make it hard for us.

But our fans will be there in numbers and it will be a great atmosphere. The last two times I have watched Oxford it has been in the stands with those fans.

Today, it will be a privilege to be in the dugout.

It’s not just within the club that I have had a wonderful reception. I want to thank all the fans for their messages and support. It has been overwhelming. I went out to my car the other morning and a man walking his dog nodded a good morning, went two steps then did a double take, doubled back and said “best of luck with it!".

One of the nicest things was a letter from my former English teacher, Mrs Powell, who sent in a  lovely handwritten letter just to wish me luck. 

It has all been very humbling- thank you to everyone for the welcome and if I don’t see you at Cheltenham then hopefully We’ll see you at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday against Bolton.