DEREK Fazackerley insists it is business as usual at Oxford United amid growing speculation about the vacant manager’s position.

The U’s are set to play a sixth game without a permanent boss when they take on Northampton Town in Sky Bet League One tomorrow.

United were given formal permission by Cardiff City on Thursday to speak to Craig Bellamy.

This is intensified with new chairman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth saying he will look to complete the search quickly.

But caretaker manager Fazackerley is expecting to take charge of the team at Sixfields and is only concerned with ending United’s three-match winless run.

The 66-year-old said: “Until I am told any different that will be the case and I’m not aware of anything.

“Of course, you see all the speculation in the press and stuff like that which goes around, but that’s what it is – speculation – at this moment in time.

“We have to prepare for the game as best as we possibly can and try to step aside from all the distractions on social media and just do the very best we can.

“Hopefully that will be good enough to get a performance and a win.”

Bellamy, who is Cardiff’s player development manager, is said to be keen to take the step into a first role as a full-time boss.

And Fazackerley believes the former Wales international could prove to be a good appointment.

He said: “He was very quick when he was a player and certainly caused some problems.

“If he can bring that to the playing pitch as well that would be an exciting prospect, but other than that I know nothing about him at all.”

In the meantime, United take on Northampton, looking to extend the gap between themselves and the relegation zone, which currently stands at five points.

Fazackerley accepts it is a huge game against a side who sit just four places below them in the table, but stressed there would still be time for the U’s to turn their season around regardless.

He said: “There are certain games where the result is more important than the performance.

“I don’t think it’s quite that yet and I don’t think it’s quite a six-pointer.

“But we want to go there and put on a good show.”