Oxford United can confirm that former Chairman Darryl Eales has stepped down from his role on the board at the club to take up a new role at the Solihull Moors.
Darryl took over the U’s in 2014 and was Chairman for two trips to Wembley plus an unforgettable promotion from League 2, and everyone at the club would like to thank Darryl for his friendship as well as his hard work at the club. As he told us, it is time for pastures new:
“I am a little bit heart broken to be leaving the board at Oxford because it has been an unforgettable four years and I have enjoyed every minute. There are some wonderful people not just at boardroom level but also among the staff and I know I have made friends for life there. Most of all I want to thank the fans. I was told very strongly when I first arrived not to tell them we were ‘going on a journey’! So let’s call it an adventure and to share that with thousands of Oxford fans has been an honour and a privilege.
“The big thing for me was to leave the club in good hands and in Tiger I know they have a very good owner who is passionate about his football and who I have no doubt will build on what we started. Karl Robinson will get things right on the pitch; we started with a very similar run of results ourselves so I know how that feels and I know that both Tiger and Karl are strong characters who will get things right.
“I hoped to stay involved if I could but the opportunity to help Solihull, my local club, came up and the time feels right to make a clean break now. If I look back four years then I know I leave Oxford United in a better place, not just in terms of the league they are in but also with the training ground and the infrastructure.
“I would like to thank everyone and wish the club well for the future.”
Chairman Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth thanked Darryl, saying
“I know I speak for everyone when I say it has been our pleasure to work alongside Darryl and we thank him for everything he has done for the club.
“He is a good man and has been a very good Chairman. It took courage to make some very big decisions but Darryl always did what he thought was right for Oxford United and he leaves the club in a far healthier position than he found it.
“I have got to know him over the last year or so and we share that passion for football so I fully understand why he wants to try and help a new club mirror the success that he has been a big part of here. He knows that he is always welcome back at Oxford and we look forward to welcoming him as our guest any time he likes.”