Relegation-threatened Oxford United are aiming to have a new head coach in place in time for their trip to Leeds United after parting ways with Des Buckingham on Sunday.

Hull City 's rivals at the wrong end of the Championship table will travel to West Yorkshire on Saturday, having controversially opted to dispense with Buckingham's services following home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. The loss left United 20th in the Championship, just one point above the drop zone and two points above the rock-bottom Tigers.

Buckingham, who guided the club to promotion last term via the League One play-offs and beat City 1-0 last month in one of Tim Walter's final games in charge, released a statement via the League Manager's Association (LMA). "Managing my boyhood club was always a dream of mine and as such I want to thank the board for giving me an opportunity that was so close to my heart," it said.

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"Last season's promotion created memories that myself, my family and no doubt the fans will never forget. I was brought into the club to try to get it into the Championship and hopefully I've left it in a better place than when I arrived.

"I would have loved the opportunity to achieve this season's objective of staying up but I respect the club's decision to part ways and go in a different direction. I would like to thank the players and staff for their dedication and commitment during my time, they're both a credit to themselves and this football club.

"I'm immensely proud of what we were able to achieve in such a short period of time. Finally, I'd like to thank the fans for their support of both myself and the players, which was vital in getting us into the Championship for the first time in 25 years. I'll always be one of you. Yellows!"

A report in The Oxford Mail says the club hope to announce their new boss in time for the new man to be in charge of their meeting with Leeds at the weekend. The U's have recorded just one win from their past 15 matches, that coming against City on Bonfire Night, and have been linked with a move for ex-Chelsea defender John Terry.

The U's are not the only Championship side looking for a new manager, with Millwall, City's opponents at The Den early in the New Year, looking for a replacement for Neil Harris, who departed after Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Middlesbrough.