Oxford United closing in on appointment of ex-Luton Town manager as Gary Rowett successor | OneFootball

Former Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield is set for a return to management with Oxford United.

Former Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield has emerged as the leading candidate to take the vacant managerial position at Championship side Oxford United, and is closing in on the role.

The 41-year-old has been out of work since October, having been sacked by Luton after just nine months in charge of the club, leaving them languishing in mid-table in League One.

Since then, Bloomfield has spoken about his desire to get back into the dugout, but is yet to find the job for him. However, that wait could well be coming to an end very soon.

According to reports from Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke via X, Bloomfield has emerged as one of the leading candidates to take the job at Championship strugglers Oxford.

The U's have been without a manager since they parted company with Gary Rowett in December, and are now keen to find his successor who can keep the club afloat in the Championship.

Matt Bloomfield set to take charge of struggling Oxford United

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind in Bloomfield's managerial career, and not in a good way. He left everyone stunned with his decision to depart his beloved Wycombe in the middle of a promotion battle, opting to head to relegation-threatened Luton in the Championship.

He ultimately failed his task of keeping the Hatters in the division, and was sacked just nine months after taking charge, following a poor start to the club's campaign in League One.

Since then, Bloomfield has spoken of his desire to get back in the dugout, and many wondered where he may end up next. Now, reports from O'Rourke suggest that the 41-year-old may be about to get another shot at the Championship.

As first rpeorted by O'Rourke, Bloomfield is now one of the leading candidates to take charge at Oxford, as the U's continue to hunt for Rowett's successor, following his departure in mid-December, and as per The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, it appears as though his appointment is nearing.

Plenty of names have been linked with the side that sit 23rd in the Championship, but Bloomfield seems to be a standout option for the Oxfordshire side, who will be keen to make an appointment sooner rather than later.

As for the former Luton boss, this would be an excellent opportunity for him to get another shot at the second tier of English football, and try to right the wrongs of his time at Kenilworth Road by keeping Oxford up.

Matt Bloomfield a risky but potentially rewarding appointment for Oxford United

Many Oxford fans will likely be underwhelmed by this appointment should it happen, and that's understandable, given the position they find themselves in and Bloomfield's less than impressive record in the Championship.

Trading an experienced Championship manager like Rowett for Bloomfield does seem like a downgrade on paper, but the potential rewards the Yellows could reap do outweigh the cons of appointing him.

Having watched Bloomfield's Wycombe side for a couple of years before his departure, it took time for him to find the right formula, but when he did, the football on show was entertaining and effective.

However, given Oxford's current league position, they need someone who can come in and get results straight away, and the 41-year-old's track record of doing that isn't exactly stunning at his previous clubs.

All in all, it seems like an appointment for the future rather than the present. The ex-Wycombe boss will undoubtedly be keen to keep the U's in the Championship, but will need to hit the ground running this time around.