The football club outlined a new progressive vision to build a young player-development model and an ultimate progression towards becoming a full-time football club.

Jenkins has been appointed in a full-time capacity and will be assisted by Andy Ballard. The duo have been successfully coaching the first team in a caretaker capacity since previous head coach David Oldfield departed. Jenkins will also further develop with performance director Martin Wilkinson the use of analysis, GPS and player profiling.

City conducted a rigorous and detailed recruitment process, more than 50 coaches applied, nine were interviewed and four candidates were short listed for second interviews with a panel.

Jenkins, 31, who recently earned his UEFA A coaching licence, played in the Championship for Watford and also played in Norway and Scotland before retiring early due to injury. He is also currently the Head Coach at Velocity Football, Oxford City Football Club’s education programme.

Director of Football Justin Merritt said: “We conducted a detailed and thorough recruitment process and interviewed several excellent candidates. The response was phenomenal, and the standard of applications was impressive. Ultimately Ross shone through and our decision to appoint him was unanimous. Ross has a great footballing pedigree and is fully aligned with our new vision to create a young player development model. We are delighted to have been able to promote from within the club and nurture talented people.”

Ross Jenkins said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been made the permanent head coach of Oxford City FC. I share the ambition of the board to develop the football club and I’m hugely excited by the challenge to progress on and off the pitch. To have the opportunity to come in full-time at this level shows the ambition of the club and we have a real opportunity now to develop the club and footballers and become more professional on a sustainable basis.”

Merritt also added: “We used this period as an opportunity to take stock and create a clear blueprint of where we want to take the football club and a new operating model. This meant we could go to market and recruit a coach that shared our philosophy and could demonstrate they could deliver it. It’s an exciting time and we’re looking forward to continuing our progression.”