OXFORD boss Peter Schroeck admits he is “embarrassed” by the death threats received by Poole youngster Vinnie Foord.

The Wessex Marine Pirates reserve revealed last week that Cheetahs fans had hurled abuse at him during the track walk prior to the KO Cup Final first leg at Cowley.

He admitted: “I had a few people tell me they were going to kill me”.

The story escalated just hours before the second leg at Wimborne Road with the Echo picking up the story.

Both teams had heard the threats and Schroeck was clearly dismayed by the shock outbursts.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) He said: “I didn’t like when we did the track walk and I heard a few people shouting that sort of stuff out.

“We are talking adults, like my age, abusing a young lad. If they want to chat with him respectfully one-to-one. But not shouting out the way they did.

“I don’t agree with that at all and I feel a little bit embarrassed about it to be quite honest.

“But I would say this is a minority of people. I won’t allow this to paint a bleak picture of Oxford fans as a whole. Our supporters have been sensational this season and since we came back in 2022.

“It’s no different to what happened at Poole. We get stick at Poole.

“However it’s always a minority of people on both sides who obviously think they are entitled to do that.

“Unfortunately we are never going to stop that. It happens in all sports, it happens on social media every day. This is the world we live in now. People think it’s acceptable to have a go.

“But now I would like to draw a line under it. In the heat of the moment we all say things.

“Vinnie came over to me and said ‘hello Pete' and shook my hand. For me this issue is now done.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) “We all have our opinions. We are talking about an 18-year-old boy in Vinnie.

“At the end of the day, he hasn’t got the experience, just the same as Jody (Scott).

“We put these guys into teams now, into the big world of speedway. They just haven’t got the experience of Scott Nicholls or Tom Brennan.

“There will be times when things get a little bit out of hand. There might be decisions on track that supporters of teams don’t agree with.

“Even with myself, I look at things and wonder what happened there or don’t agree.

“If anyone is to say anything, it would have to be me. That’s because I’m the Oxford manager.

“I’m sure Vinnie didn’t go out to hurt anyone on purpose. I don’t like the behaviour when he's walking around with his dad, but that’s different. That can be dealt with in-house for the future.

“With youngsters, they also have to be taught a bit of etiquette on how we have to conduct ourselves. Especially with TV coverage and thousands of people watching it across the world.”

Schroeck is rightfully keen to draw a line under the incident and ensure that the rivalry between the clubs remains respectful for 2025.

He added: “This is a healthy rivalry and nothing more. There’s no feuds. Our clubs get on very well, Middlo and I go back a long way and it’s tough for us to try and beat each other, to be honest.

“We are two southern clubs, along with Plymouth, and there’s an excitement about our meetings. It must remain attractive and nothing more.

“We need to keep it real. We can’t get too carried away with aggro.

“I even get the stick at Oxford. Probably 99 per cent of people are happy with what I do. But there’s always one person who comes up and thinks he knows better. He has to tell me what to do.

“I know how to deal with that. I deal with it directly and in an honest manner. That’s my style.”