OXFORD United’s managing director says there is ‘no possibility’ of securing a long-term lease at the Kassam Stadium as the club works towards submitting a planning application for a new ground.

The U’s are aiming to have delivered flyers to all residents of Kidlington, Gosford and Water Eaton by the end of today, which will outline the reasons for their proposed move to Stratfield Brake.

The flyers contain a QR code allowing people to answer questions and share their thoughts on the plans.

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United’s initial proposal for Stratfield Brake, located south of Kidlington, includes an 18,000-capacity stadium, community and sports grounds and hotel, retail and conference facilities.

Their license agreement at Grenoble Road expires in 2026 and MD Niall McWilliams reiterated their future at the site is in the hands of landlords Firoka, owned by former U’s chairman Firoz Kassam.

“There’s no possibility to extend our lease for a long time,” the United chief said.

“We’ve tried our best to make that clear, it’s a question that we get asked on a weekly basis.

“The stadium belongs to Firoka and it’s their prerogative to do what they want with it.”

Asked if United are on good terms with their landlord, McWilliams said: “The relationship on an operational basis is still a very good one, and it’s been that way for a long time.

“We’ll have to see where we are over the next two to three months.

“We have contingency plans in place, but at this moment in time we’re making sure we can get that planning permission in.”

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In March, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet authorised officers to enter detailed discussions with United about leasing Stratfield Brake.

The U’s must reach an agreement with the county council, which owns the land, and its tenants and sub-tenants at the sports ground.

Only then can United gain planning permission from planning authority Cherwell District Council, one of the tenants at Stratfield Brake, and McWilliams admitted time is of the essence.

He said: “For us to be in a new stadium, wherever that may be, we’ll have to have a planning application in by the start of 2023 at the very latest.

“It might seem a long way, but it seems like tomorrow for us and we’re working very hard on a complex issue.”

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The county council conducted a four-week public consultation on the proposal earlier this year, but Kidlington Parish Council called for United to share more information on the plans at a meeting last month.

McWilliams said: “We’ve appointed a client team to give Kidlington residents the detail they want.

“That includes parking, what will be in the stadium, biodiversity and environmental impact.

“We want to provide world-class facilities for the people of Kidlington and Oxfordshire.

“We have that in common, everybody wants what’s best for the community.”