CHAIRMAN Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth says the reasons behind Oxford United’s winding-up petition will be explained, but he is unable to reveal them at the moment.

A second unpaid bill in eight months to HM Revenue & Customs raised concerns, particularly as it took almost a month to deal with after it became public.

The U’s owner had said nothing publicly about the problem until his programme notes for Saturday’s 2-0 win against Blackpool.

In them he acknowledged fans’ worries and stressed the club’s board have “money to match our ambitions”, but was unable to give any clarity over how the problem had arisen and what was being done to avoid a repeat.

He wrote: “It is right for fans to ask those questions. I have agonised over what I can say in reply.

“In time I will be able to answer them all, and I promise I will do, but at the moment there are things that simply cannot be divulged.

“I know that will annoy so many people, but it is the truth.

“Nothing I say beyond that will stop speculation, I know, but perhaps I can reassure fans with a few facts.

“Oxford United is run as a sustainable football club and run by people with experience within the game and a passion for this club.

“We have a board who have a united plan for the future.

“We have money to match our ambitions.

“We have come through a situation which nobody could have foreseen, caused not by our own negligence but by outside factors.

“We will learn from that and in the end be better for it.”