OXFORD United will be ready for next season whatever happens at Wembley tonight, says chairman Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth.

The U’s face Wycombe Wanderers in the Sky Bet League One play-off final (7.30) as they bid to reach the Championship for the first time since 1999.

Being within 90 minutes of the second tier is a huge achievement, particularly after the season was split in two by the coronavirus pandemic.

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For much of the four month break it was unclear when United would return to action, while off the pitch their income streams dried up.

But the U’s have prepared for both for life in the Championship and League One and Tiger believes they will not be left behind.

“No matter what happens we know our position,” he said.

“From January we had two scenarios – staying in League One or (going up to) the Championship.

“We’ve planned very well and we know the players we want to use if we’re in the Championship.”

The U’s chief added: “During lockdown we had no income at all, so it really hurt the club.

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“But we’ve tried to be very conservative with the money we’ve spent. We’ve planned well financially going into next season.”

United would have netted an estimated £1m from the three play-off games if they had not been behind closed doors, with the lack of fans set to give tonight’s clash a surreal feel.

The U’s earned millions from player trading this season to help make up the shortfall, thanks to Gavin Whyte’s switch to Cardiff City last summer and Shandon Baptiste and Tariqe Fosu moving to Brentford in January.

The club’s board were criticised for the latter deals, which came during a run of form that saw Karl Robinson’s side lose ground on the top six.

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United bounced back, winning their last five games before lockdown to set up a play-off semi-final against Portsmouth that they won on penalties.

It was the latest highlight in a season where the U’s reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and took Newcastle United to an Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay.

While Tiger wants Robinson’s men to seize the moment tonight, he knows it has been a campaign to cherish.

“We haven’t been in the Championship for many years and this opportunity doesn’t come around often. You have to make it,” he said.

“It will hurt if we lose. It would be hard to think of it as a success for a long time, but deep down it has been successful.”