There is nothing like a sacking to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Gary Rowett has left as Oxford United head coach and, whatever you think of the decision, you have to feel for him.

Losing your job this close to Christmas after such a tough period will hurt, and Rowett is a one of those good guys who you only wish the best for.

Some will be glad to see United make a change, and some will see this as a big risk that could see the U's all but relegated.

Once both Sunday and Monday had passed, I thought the window the get rid of the 51-year-old had passed, but football does not work that way.

Tuesday was the mid-point between the loss to Charlton Athletic and the upcoming Boxing Day fixture and, with Christmas on the doorstep and a busy clump of games to come, it seems a tricky period to get someone in and gather momentum.

Gary Rowett gives orders during the U's win over Wednesday (Image: Mike Allen)

On the contrary, the January transfer window is rapidly approaching so the time was now to either back or sack Rowett, something that he himself admitted last weekend.

READ MORE: Gary Rowett sacked as Oxford United manager after poor form

One win in 10. Failure to pick up points against struggling teams. Poor performances.

Looking at those factors alone, it does appear the right decision to try something new.

Furthermore, Rowett had the team in the exact same position points-wise by the time of the Charlton game as Des Buckingham had when he was surprisingly dismissed this time last season.

Oxford players in an altercation with Charlton (Image: Mike Allen)

It felt as though Rowett-ball had run its course, and the feeling around him had grown stale, the result at the Addicks tipping many fans over the edge.

The narrative around the Englishman's style is that it does grind out results, but even that was failing so when you are mixing pragmatic football with poor results, it is a lose-lose scenario.

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It is worth noting that not all of the factors behind the U's poor form were entirely Rowett's doing.

The trip to Indonesia imposed pre-season timing and injury issues on him and the squad, and imbalanced recruitment in the summer was something to manage.

He has had to carry that flack this season, perhaps unfairly.

Oxford United fans made the trip to Indonesia (Image: Karisa Aurelia Tukan/ Media Piala Presiden)

Looking further back, one of the benefits of the now-former boss' appointment was the new-manager bounce he brought when first appointed, winning his first three games in charge, and that surely will have crossed the minds of the club's decision makers as something to try and replicate.

The Yellows have dismissed someone with a lot of Championship pedigree though, which could come back to haunt them, and maybe he could have pulled it out of the bag once again with a bit of January investment.

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However, it does feel as though something had to change and it did not feel like Rowett had the ability to do that.

Despite its ending, the old boss' time at the club should be looked back on fondly; keeping the U's up in their first year back in the second tier in 25 years is no small feat.

For whoever is next, the next month is make or break. Oxford United have rolled the dice - it must pay off.

© Oxford Mail