Pep Clotet: Oxford United sack manager. The 40-year-old Spaniard, who took over in July, was dismissed following Oxford's 2-1 loss at home to League One's bottom side Bury on Saturday. The U's have failed to win nine of their past 13 league games, including a 7-0 loss at home to Wigan in December. "The board has taken the decision after much consideration, and in the best interests of Oxford United FC," a statement read on the club website. "Pep has worked extremely hard throughout his time at Oxford. The board thanks him for his efforts and wishes him every success for the future." Clotet's assistant Derek Fazackerley has been put in charge of first-team affairs until a successor is appointed. Having been a coach alongside Garry Monk at Swansea City and Leeds United, Clotet was given his first managerial role in England when he succeeded Michael Appleton as Oxford boss. He had previously spent short stints as manager of Malaga and Espanyol's reserve teams in the third tier of Spanish football and a spell in charge of Swedish side Halmstads. He led Oxford to two successive League One wins at the start of his reign, but the club did not win again in the third tier for a month before going on a four-game winless run. Three successive league wins at the end of September and start of October saw the club move back into the play-off places, but they won just twice more in the league in 2017 as the club fell back into mid-table.
