CHRIS Wilder has banned Oxford United’s players and staff from using the word ‘promotion’.

And the move has the full support of his chairman – even though he is one of the first to fall victim to the rule.

In an exclusive interview with the Oxford Mail on the anniversary of him taking over the club a year ago, Kelvin Thomas admits that he ‘expects no leniency from the players or manager’.

But he gives his backing to his manager’s decision, and says it epitomises the thinking by all the staff at the club.

“There is a serious reason for Chris doing this, one which I wholeheartedly agree with,” Thomas said.

“We have had a great start, but we are not getting carried away.

“We have put ourselves in a good position, but there is a long way to go before we even start talking about p********”.

Thomas claims he did not say the word, but was merely replying to a question based on a story in the Oxford Mail, asking whether the U’s were in a better position now to go up, than before.

“Chris has advised me that the players have called for at least one fine, but I have pleaded mitigation as I feel it only came about due to an Oxford Mail headline,” he said.

“I never actually said the word, but was answering the question of whether we are better equipped this year than three years ago. Which we are.

“However, I do not expect leniency!”

In a revealing interview, Thomas talks about how he has turned the club round from losing £850,000 a year to the possibility of breaking even, as well as explaining how the whole mindset of the club is so different now than before.