Two former Portsmouth favourites in frame for vacant Oxford United manager's job - along with ex-Sunderland and West Brom bosses
Pompey rivals Oxford United are currently on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Gary Rowett earlier this week
Two former Pompey players are among the betting for the vacant manager’s job at Championship relegation rivals Oxford United.
And a current out-of-work boss, who was interviewed for the Fratton Park vacancy when it last became available in January 2023, also finds himself on the bookies’ shortlist of potential replacements for the sacked Gary Rowett.
The U’s parted company with Rowett two days before Christmas with the Kassam Stadium outfit in the relegation zone after just one win in 10 Championship outings.
Oxford, under interim boss Craig Short, hauled themselves out of that worrying predicament on Boxing Day when they beat Southampton 2-1 to move up to 21st in the table at the expense of Pompey, who find themselves back in the bottom three following their Fratton Park draw against QPR.
Now they could potentially call upon two former Blues to keep them out of trouble over the second half of the 2025-26 season.
Former Pompey favourites in frame for Oxford manager’s job
According to BetVictor, former Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland boss Michael Beale is the current favourite for the job, followed by ex-Chelsea and England captain John Terry, and former West Brom and Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray.
Former U’s boss Liam Manning, who was sacked by fellow Championship strugglers Norwich earlier this season and who lost out to former Oxford defender John Mousinho for the Pompey job nearly three years ago, is also high up the list of contenders - as is current Crystal Palace assistant manager Paddy McCarthy.
Yet, according to the betting, there’s a possibility Pompey could find themselves in a scrap for survival with two former Fratton favourites.
Gary O’Neil, who made 192 appearances for the Blues during an eight-year stay at PO4 and was part of Harry Redknapp’s 2002-03 old First Division title-winning side, is among those names being mentioned for the role.
The 42-year-old is currently out of work, having not returned to management following his stint at Premier League Wolves between August 2023 and December 2024.
Meanwhile, Noel Hunt, who was part of Paul Cook’s 2026-17 League Two title-winning squad, is also fancied by punters following his dismissal at League One Reading back in October.
Whoever Oxford turn to, they’ve got a difficult job on their hands, with the U’s winning just five for their 23 Championship fixtures to date and currently outside the drop zone on goal difference.
Twenty-second-placed Pompey also have a game in hand on the U’s, although just like their Kassam Stadium rivals, they too are finding wins hard to come by this term.
Just five wins have been forthcoming for Mousinho & Co all season, with Friday’s 1-1 draw against QPR at Fratton Park viewed by many as a missed opportunity to collect three valuable points following a dominant first half that saw Terry Devlin hand the hosts a well-deserved lead at the break.
The Blues will hope to rectify that with a home match at Charlton on Monday - the same day that Oxford play host to Swansea.
After beating the U’s on the opening day of the season 1-0 in Oxfordshire, Pompey will have to wait until Monday, April 6, before going head-to-head with their relegation rivals and their next choice to fill the Kassam Stadium hotset.
Next Oxford managerial odds (BetVictor)
Michael Beale (2/1), John Terry (2/1), Tony Mowbray (3/1), Liam Manning (4/1), Paddy McCarthy (4/1), Karl Robinson (5/1), Matt Bloomfield (6/1), Russell Martin (8/1), Michael Skubala (8/1), Russell Martin (8/1), John O’Shea (10/1), Gary O’Neil (33/1), Will Still (33/1), Noel Hunt (33/1), Steve Bruce (33/1).
For your next Pompey read: Why Portsmouth boss refuses to consider Championship table as side fall back into drop zone against QPR