OXFORD United fear they may be forced to close their academy for six months due to a gap in training facilities.

The club’s stay at the Roman Way grounds in Cowley is due to come to an end in December, when landlords BMW take back control of the site.

It was revealed yesterday that an agreement 'in principle' had been made with Oxford City Football Club for a permanent base at Court Place Farm.

But even if this does go ahead, there isn't the facilities or space for the academy on the site in Northway.

As revealed by the Oxford Mail last month provision had been made for United as part of a £4.9m development on neighbouring fields in Horspath.

The plans were met with some disappointment by the club, who had hoped to formally tender to develop and run the site.

And the U’s believe the new sports complex will not be completed by summer 2018 – raising the prospect the academy’s 292 pupils will be homeless for six months.

Darryl Eales, United’s chairman, said the ‘hiatus period’ was an urgent issue the club was trying hard to address.

He said: “We could do with certainty here because we will have a six-month period where we would probably have to close the academy because we have got nowhere to go and we will have to find somewhere else for the first team halfway through the season.

“This is a live, current and urgent issue and we do need to find some answers.”

The academy is open seven days a week, training boys and girls from six to 18 and has seen stars Callum O’Dowda, Sam Long and Canice Carroll go through its ranks and on to play for the first team.

The extent of the facilities needed to run the academy include: 17 changing rooms, seven pitches, a goalkeeping area, a youth team area, two classrooms, a 3G pitch as well as shared facilities with the first team of a gym, medical room, kitchen, video analysis room, boot room, six offices and equipment room.

If the partnership with Oxford City FC goes ahead, the U's would set up a supporters' club and retail outlet at the ground, which they also hope will host their Women's Super League and some of their academy games.

There is also the potential for building a permanent training ground for United's first team on the site at Court Place Farm.

The plans are subject to a formal agreement between the clubs and Oxford City Council, but it would pave the way for the main pitch to be replaced with an artificial surface.

Greig Box Turnbull, managing director of the club since April, said facilities at Court Place Farm might not even be ready in time for the first team to be used at the end of the year.

He said: “This six month problem affects the first team as well.

“Oxford city is a more medium to long term solution as we have not got any planning permission in yet to accommodate our needs.”

The club was initially expected to leave its Roman Way training site last year, but a deal struck between Oxford City Council and BMW, the landowners, saw its lease extended for a further 12 months until December 2017.

Mr Box Turnbull added: “BMW have been very, very good to the football club, really accommodating.

“We are hoping they will extend the lease that is the ideal solution.

“If that is not possible then we are looking to work with the city council to find an alternative site, it is critical we find a solution to this.

“We appreciate that this is concerning to everybody that is part of the academy but rest assured we are working very hard to find a positive outcome.”

Tom Jennings, a city council spokesman, said the council would continue to support the club.

He said: “We have been involved with negotiations from the start and if it was not for the city council then the lease extension last year nor the partnership would have gone ahead."

A spokesman for the Mini plant said they were pleased the council and two clubs were working together and that they couldn't comment further.

CASE STUDY:

WHEN Chris Hackett left Oxford United to join Hearts in 2006, the club’s youth development programme was virtually non-existent.

Emerging talent in the county was being snapped up by rival clubs as the effects of cost-cutting were brought home.

Ironically, the winger came through the ranks at United and was part of a group of youngsters to make the transition from youth team to first team just before the turn of the century.

Not long after that, the plug was pulled on youth development and the conveyor belt of talent stopped.

But things have now gone full circle and Mr Hackett is hoping to play his part in the next cycle of promising youngsters.

Now 33, the former county sprint champion is back helping coach United’s under 15 side on a part-time basis.

He said: "There is no better feeling than being a local lad playing for your home-town club. It’s the biggest buzz there is.

"A few years ago I think the club lost some of those young players to other clubs.

"But I think that’s changing now. The club are focused on making sure they get local players to come here.

"When I was coming through the ranks here, all the best players in Oxfordshire were at Oxford United.

"And there’s no reason why that will not be the case again now."