KARL Robinson admits uncertainty in Oxford United’s boardroom will not help recruitment.

It is three weeks since the U’s Indonesian investors made an offer to buy the majority stake in the club.

But Robinson could not give a timescale on when the ownership situation would be resolved.

“That’s the little grey area and everyone’s working extremely hard behind the scenes to give some more clarity on that,” he told BBC Radio Oxford’s Five Minute Fans Forum.

Karl Robinson: I will watch from the stands next time Trevor Kettle is our referee

“When you have a clear plan it becomes a little bit easier.

“You don’t divert because of one or two negative results, you know what’s going on is right.”

Meanwhile, Robinson insisted he would '100 per cent' like to keep Josh Ruffels next season.

The left back brought up 300 Oxford United appearances in February, but his contract expires this summer and he is yet to agree a new deal.

Robinson said: “I don’t want to say exactly where we’re at, but conversations have been going on for a long time.”

Read also: Simon Eastwood signs new long-term contract

The U’s boss revealed this week that he wants to bring back Marcus McGuane on a permanent deal after the Nottingham Forest midfielder impressed before injury ended his season in January.

Robinson was asked about two more loanees, Elliot Lee and Brandon Barker, who will return to their parent clubs at the end of the campaign.

He said: “Brandon will be a hard one on a permanent, as you’d imagine.

“He’s played no football and you can see he’s starting to get into a bit of a rhythm.

“Elliot’s had a few injuries through an overload of playing, but he’s got a tremendous goal return and that’s something we want to see around the building.”