ANDY Whing is in the frame for a return to Oxford United as their new youth team coach – providing question marks over his qualifications can be resolved.

The 30-year-old strongly hinted at the end of last season he was considering retiring as a professional due to an accumulation of injuries.

Coaching was one option to stay involved and the club have a vacancy, with Chris Allen stepping up from youth team boss to first team coach following Mickey Lewis’s departure earlier this week.

Michael Appleton, United’s head coach, has always been keen to keep the popular Whing, who said in May he was planning to start the UEFA B Licence coaching course this summer.

The former midfielder has been back at United this week and Appleton wants to make the arrangement permanent, if possible.

He said: “We like having good people around. When we recruit players it’s not just about their ability, it’s about what they’re like as personalities.

“If there’s something that can be done between the club and Whingy we will try.

“It’s more to do with whether he can do it in terms of qualifications.

“As long as we can do it in the right way, he will be on board.

“If it can be done, it will be done and he will be part of the set-up.”

The second job which needs to be filled is head of sports science, after United also parted company with Alasdair Lane.

A replacement is expected to be finalised shortly, although they will not begin work until after the squad return from their training camp in Austria in a week’s time.

While changing two members of staff after the beginning of pre-season is hardly ideal, Appleton does not foresee any problems, particularly with Allen’s role.

He said: “I think he will be fantastic in building that bridge between the first team and the youth team.

“I can’t see it being an issue in the slightest, if I’m being honest with you.

“He’s been at the place that long, he knows the players and he’s comfortable around them."

“Football is football and from a transition point of view it’s happened ever so smoothly.”

  • POLYTHENE UK have agreed a new sponsorship deal which will see their logo on the back of Oxford United’s first-team shirts this season.

The Witney firm are a long-term supporter of the club and will also continue to sponsor the club’s women’s side.

Mark Ashton, United’s chief executive, said: “We have been working hard to re-engage with businesses that have perhaps drifted away from their active commercial support of the club.”