DAVID Oldfield feels Oxford City have been ‘left high and dry’ after plans to resurrect their campaign were rejected, writes JACK SALE.

The FA’s Alliance Committee threw out proposals for a Vanarama National League North and South mini-season last Friday, following the decision to declare both divisions null and void.

It would have allowed a meaningful conclusion to the campaign for clubs who wanted to play on, with City included in that group.

Read also: FA rejects National League North and South mini-league

But instead Oldfield’s side have not had the chance to fulfil their fixtures for the second straight year, while they now face five months without competitive football.

The City boss said: “I am angry and upset.

“The clubs that have wanted to continue have been left high and dry, there’s no doubt about that.

“The whole situation has been a farce.”

City were fourth in National League South and reached the second round of the FA Cup, knocking out Sky Bet League One club Northampton Town in front of the TV cameras along the way.

They also reached the Buildbase FA Trophy quarter-final, where they fell to a 3-1 defeat at National League side Notts County.

Oldfield thinks the club have handled the situation well and is adamant that they would have voted to continue, regardless of where they found themselves in the table.

He said: “I’m very pleased and proud of the club actually having a consistent view on the situation, so where we are in the league is irrelevant.

“We wanted to continue to play.”

With no football set to take place for City between now and pre-season, sporting director Justin Merritt expects the club to use the government’s furlough scheme.

He said: “With the season finishing it’s more than likely we will be utilising the furlough scheme, as we have got a lot of players under contract who can’t come to work.”

Merritt believes City need to quickly come to terms with the FA’s decision and begin planning for 2021/22.

“The players have taken it quite hard, but as a club we have just got to move on, accept it,” he said.

“Now we have got the time to plan, look at what we need, and we can start building for next season.”

Key to City’s plans will be keeping together their young squad, including some who attracted interest from clubs at higher levels in the January transfer window.

Merritt said: “Hopefully we can keep all the players.

“I think most of them want to stay and that’s a real positive.”