KARL Robinson hopes Oxford United’s search for a new stadium can take a step forward this afternoon at a crucial council meeting.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet is recommended to allow officers to begin talks on ‘outline legal and commercial terms’.

The decision relates to ‘The Triangle’, a piece of land south of Kidlington Roundabout.

Any legal agreement between the U’s and the council must meet a series of objectives, officers have recommended to cabinet.

These objectives include maintaining a green barrier between Oxford and Kidlington, enhancing facilities for local sports groups, and improving public transport in the area.

United head coach Robinson says a new stadium isn’t just about the football club, but the county as a whole.

He said: “The players hear what goes on, there’s been so much going on around this football club for the last two years.

“The uncertainty and worry that we carry, it’s important for us that we get the right decision.

“It’s not about Oxford United, it’s about Oxfordshire as a whole.

“We’re the only professional sport team in the county.

“We do need a focal point, I’ve said many times about football being almost a central hub of all communities generally.

“We know the people of Oxfordshire and that they want this home, and this is incredibly important for that.”

The club’s protracted change of ownership was completed at the end of September when Indonesian investors Anindya Bakrie and Erick Thohir finalised a deal that saw them take a controlling 51 per cent stake in the U’s.

Robinson said that finding a new home fits in with the ownership’s aim to bring success to United.

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“I speak independently from the club as a football fan, you want every team to have their own ground that’s owned by them,” said Robinson.

“The new stadium is something that’ll be exciting for everybody and I know the new ownership, one thing they certainly want to bring to the fans is clarity, openness and honesty.

“What I’ve dealt with since I’ve been here, they’re so driven to try and make the football club successful.”

When asked whether a new stadium would help him entice players to the club, Robinson said: “It’s massively important, that’s still something as a recruitment driver when you’re competing with Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich.

“It creates a home and an atmosphere, and if it wasn’t for the fans of the football club, I don’t know where this club would be.”

United’s hunt for a new home has been taking on more significance as the licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium is set to run out in 2026, after which point the club could find itself homeless.

Planning permission for a new stadium at The Triangle would be required from Cherwell District Council, as the local planning authority.