Firoz and what he has done with OUFC
All the sentences underlined are links to various papers where you can read the full story
Wednesday 03 February 1999 ? Cox Resigns
Keith Cox resigned after he was confirmed he is wanted in the
Firoz threatens to pull out of the potential buy of
8th May 1999 - David Mellor says Firoz Kassam could be the wrong person
Mellor claimed he had received letters and faxes about Kassam which he could not read out because they might result in libel procedings.
26 May 1999 ? Jim Rosenthal and businessmen want to buy the club
25th October 1999 - Oxford slip 25 Places in the league
Kassam pledged ?2m to spend on new players and on running costs, and an additional ?350,000 came into the club with the sale of defender Phil Gilchrist to Leicester City. Where is that money?
Kassam refuses to pay money for new players insisting that until the stadium planning is finished, ?Until the future of the new stadium is sorted out - and that is still by no means certain at the moment - we can't really do anything?
6th October 1999 ? Shotto leaves 60 applications
Firoz Kassam says that he had received 60 applications, including a number from bosses who had managed at Premiership level. Among them are believed to be Mark Wright, Mark McGhee, Ian Atkins, Nigel Spackman, Ray Clemence, Richard Hill and Ray Houghton
9th December 1999 ? ?I will give mega millions?
Kassam pledges ?mega millions.? He told fans at an open meeting in the Supporters' Club meeting: "We will have a great club one day but it will take two or three years at least to get there.
Kassam also promised ?We will still look to finish the ground in time for July, but it will mean paying a premium, and could also mean that the conference site is not built when we open. But the football side is most important."
22nd January 2000 ? Kassam fails to pay Ray Halford
Ray Halford quits Oxford after not being paid for being as a director of football.. Kassam says, ?Don?t Blame me?
3rd Feburary 2000 ? The long wait for a manager is over
Firoz Kassam brings in Dennis Smith to be the Oxford United manager after 3 months of Mickey Lewis running the club. 3 months is a long time to wait for a new manager!
Kassam threatens to pull out saying he will ensure the person to step in is up to the job. On Monday Jim Rosenthal and the ?gang of four? offer to buy the club. At the end of the week he decides to stay after meeting a council member.
After moving Dennis Smith to an advisory role, Kassam promises ?Let me get the stadium being built and then we will get the team here that can play football. Leave it to me, I will do it for you, but do not make any threats and do not put any pressure on me." Joe Kinnear arrives a few days later. He also mentioned "So all I can say to the media and to a few supporters who make unnecessary threats to me and my family is: if you don't like it, p**s off, go away," there's the football in community spirit!
Kassam introduces the new management trio of Kinnear with David Kemp as manager to be assisted by Alan McLeary.
1st Feb 2001 ? 101 days in, Kinear leaves
22nd March 2001- Kassam refuses to bring in any new players after hearing another delay in the stadium planning permission
Kassam says ?There might not be a club by this time next week? after another problem with the new stadium. He refused to bring any new players in before the transfer deadline leaving the next U?s game with both first team keepers out and the youth goalkeeper injured.
23rd April 2001 ? Kemp blames the lack of ambition as there has been no money available
Kemp says "But you reap what you sow in this business. This club has not invested in players for three years and it shows. What is the ambition of this club?? and blames the lack of investment on United downturn. A week later Kemp was sacked
At the last ever game at the Manor, Kassam again promised "We need to find a new manager, we need to buy new players and we need to bring back the good times that you guys have seen on this pitch over a number of years." Kassam promised that, having done what he said he would do in bringing the club the new stadium, he would also come up with the goods in giving the fans a successful team.
"I promise you, once we move to the new ground, I will deliver what I always said I would."
4th May 2001 ? Kassam Sales the manor to Firoka, which he owns
Kassam buys the Manor from himself and claims no one else wanted it
Kassam chooses wrong again. Two wrongs did make a Wright
After Kassam promised he will get a ?proven? third division manager and he would not bring in a big name --- he announces Mark Wright as the new Oxford Manager. Wright comments later "There is absolutely no difference between the better teams in the Conference and those in the third division.?
30th November 2001 ? Another new manager, Ian Aktins Appointed
Kassam appoints Ian Atkins as director of football then sacks Mark Wright after racial allegations
13th Feb 2002 ? Kassam refuses to pay money to the Council
Kassam wants to bring rugby to the Kassam buy trying to by Birmingham Rugby club
20th April 2002 - Kassam pledges 5 new players to Ian Aktins
19 September 2002 ? Creditors investigate dodgy deals
After Firoka sold the manor land for 12 million. Oxford United Creditors are challenaging the orginaly sale of the Manor ground to Firoz as too cheap
18th October 2002 - Kassam gets off a speeding ticket
Tuesday 12 November 2002- Creditors claim blocked
Former managing director Keith Cox has lodged a claim for ?600,000. He will receive just ?26,400. Another creditor, Patrick Nally, of London-based stadium building consultants Stadi Varios, was owed ?35,000 for a package to save the club before Mr Kassam bought it. He is to receive about ?1,540.
Joey Beauchamp gets pushed out the club and promises to be given a testimonal
9th January 2003 - Kassam pledges to get OUFC to Division 1
Kassam, "Ideally, we can go up to the second division this season, stay there for a couple of years and then get up into the first, which is where I believe Oxford belong.
"And that is where I want to take them. Be it in three years or five years, we will be there.
Monday 13 January 2003 ? No Oxford United Sign
Fans have been upset that, even though the U's have been playing at the new stadium for nearly 18 months, there is no real mention anywhere around the ground that it's where United play. This goes hand in hand with the lack of anything saying Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium
As a condition of planning permission, the club agreed to pay the council ?183,333 for transport infrastructure, ?100,000 for junction improvements, and ?41,666 for a controlled parking scheme to stop nearby streets being used by fans. Only ?1,000 has been paid
13th Feb 2003 ? Ford meets Firoz and resigns
Tuesday 02 September 2003 - Go ahead for Ozone
Council grant permission for the building of the Ozone. The following month, Kassam tries to sell the club
22nd October 2003 ? Buy the club for a ?1, but you don?t get the hotel, Ozone or Stadium
Kassam said, "could go for ?1" - the price he paid for it. Its also worth checking out this link
"I keep going in to see Firoz Kassam to ask for a meeting but he keeps putting it off."
"I've sent him two letters and have had no formal response. One was passed to director Ashwini Tawakley, who said he'd look at it, but nothing has happened."
18th February 2004 - Kassam refuses to pay for mid-season break
A man of Firoz financial wealth, surely, if he cared about the club, he could pay for a few days away for the team. This could of turned our season around and we could of still gone up
Kassam said yesterday: "I'm not sure a break is necessary or is something that a third division club normally does or can afford to do, but it has been discussed. A team-bonding session might be of benefit, though.
"I wasn't aware that we were looking for a sponsor for it. With all these things, it usually ends up being me who has to put my hand in my pocket."
"Even in the summer, we didn't have a chance to get away as a group, so I'd just like to give them a day or two somewhere to break up the routine.
"What we really need is for someone out there to sponsor us for a trip somewhere. It could be paintballing, a day at the races, a health farm, a golf day or a trip abroad. In fact, a couple of days in the sun would be perfect!
24/04/2004 - Kassam brings in Rix.
After a terrbile start as caretaker manager, Kassam offers Graham Rix a two year contact which is reported to be around 20-30K a year.
05/05/2004 - Kassam demands ?25K off each directors
Kassam asked directors to pay money into the club after it announced loses of 250K. They were not pleased, espically as this will pay Firoka for the stadium rental
10/12/2004 - Gang of 10 want to buy the club
19th Februry 2005 - New hotel planned
Firoz Kassam admits that he doesn't know if Oxford United can afford to keep their Argentine management team next season. How many weeks ago was it when Firoz announces his plans for a new hotel?
04/04/2005 - Oxford drop down the league, Kassam Gets Richer
The definitive guide to the richest thousand people in Britain and Ireland revealed that Mr Kassam, 50, is now worth ?250m compared to ?90m last year and has rocketed from a position of joint 443rd last year to joint 192nd.
Gorian linked with a take over ? please Kassam leave us and let someone else try to bring success on the playing field rather than Firoka Limited. www.kassamout.co.uk is launch
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