It was his first big call as Oxford United chairman, but less than 24 hours after sacking manager Darren Patterson, U’s chairman Kelvin Thomas reveals why he felt the decision had to be made.

He admits the move will cost the club financially, but felt it was in the best interest for United’s long-term future.

Here is the full question and answer session I had with Thomas.

Question: What is the immediate timescale now for appointing a new manager?

Kelvin Thomas: “The ideal would be to get someone in before the transfer window opens.”

Q: How difficult a decision was it for you to part company with Darren Patterson?”

KT: “It was a very difficult decision for me personally. It was a tough weekend.

“Darren’s a friend as well as manager of the football club so it was the hardest decision of my life.”

Q: Was the FA Cup defeat at Torquay the final straw?

KT: “It wasn’t the final straw, but it didn’t help the situation.

“This decision was not down to if we won or if we lost at Torquay.

“But it was another result that didn’t go our way.

“I think Darren has had enough time and I felt we needed a different direction.”

Q: Was it as much the performances in recent weeks as the results which led to this?

KT: “Results are a major factor and we want to get the best results possible.

“I don’t think the performances have been consistent enough over 90 minutes and that’s had a bearing on it.”

Q: Do you have some sympathy with Patterson in that he’s had a lot of injuries this season?

KT: “I do have some sympathy with Darren, and we discussed those [injuries] on Sunday “The hardest thing for me is that Darren’s a friend as well. But I had to make a decision in the best interests of the football club, and results and performances weren’t what we were looking for.”

Q: How did he take it?

KT: “I think Darren took it very well – albeit he was very disappointed.”

Q: “It was suggested the club might not be able to afford to sack him?

KT: “There’s a bigger financial implication from this decision.

“It does have an impact financially, probably more for the negative than the positive.

“But we have to have one eye on the future and I felt it was the right decision for the team.”

Q: Are you looking again for a younger manager, because it didn’t quite work with Jim (Smith)?

KT: “It didn’t quite work with Jim maybe in the second year.

“But in the first year it didn’t work on the basis of a penalty shoot-out.

“We’re certainly not using age as a criteria. I don’t think we can legally anyway!

“But what we’re looking for is experience – experience at this level, experience of having success at this level, experience of having success in the League, experience of developing players, finding players, being able to work within financial constraints.”

Q: Is it a job Jim would like again?

KT: “I don’t think so, but he’s agreed to step in and help out.

“We’re lucky that Jim’s there. He’s stepped up to the plate and has got a lot of experience which can help us right now.”

Q: Over the last two months fans seemed to be increasingly against Patterson because of results. Did that play a part in your decision, because you obviously have to listen to your customer base?

KT: “I don’t think the vocalness of the fans has had any bearing.

“I expect to get, and I do get [criticism] after every defeat, and have done ever since I came in.

“I don’t think the pressure from the fans has increased from when I arrived.

“From the first day, there’s been a call for Darren’s head.

“Yes, we do have to listen to our customer base, but we have to make decisions based on what we feel is right for the football club, not just on what the fans think.

“Realistically, there are fans who think this is probably the wrong decision so if you base everything on the fans it would be very difficult to get a decision.”

Q: Mickey Lewis is going to be assisting Jim. Is he a possible candidate or is he only looked upon as a No 2?

KT: “I’ve said to Mickey that he’s absolutely free to apply for the job, but one of the things we’re going to ensure we do is make sure there’s a proper process in place.

“We will treat it like any other managerial position within the football club.

“We’re going to ask for applications, we’ll select candidates from those applications, we’ll research those candidates, do some background on them, and I’m going to work as hard as possible to ensure to find the right candidate.”

Q: How much of a blow to the club was that loss of potential revenue from the FA Cup on Saturday?

KT: “It was a big blow.

“We lost out on the prize-money, which is £30,000, and we lost out on a potentially lucrative home tie with Championship side Blackpool which, given the support in Oxford, and it being the third round of the FA Cup . . . I think we would have seen a bumper crowd for it.

“It had a financial implication.”

Q: Without that revenue, will you still be able to afford the next stadium rent instalment?

KT: “We are working towards our obligations.”

Q: When you came in as chairman, you stressed then the importance of dialogue with Firoz Kassam. In addition to paying the rent, are you looking now at all different avenues with the stadium as a way forward for the club?

KT: “Absolutely. Some of the plan going forward is to do with our relationship with Firoz and working together for the future of the football club over the longer term.”