Oxford United Announce Retained List

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder announced his retained list today, and the following eight players have been told that they will not be offered a new deal with the club: Eddie Hutchinson, Yemi Odubade, Chris Willmott, Phil Trainer, Craig Nelthorpe, Matt Day, Barry Quinn and Matty Taylor.

Phil Trainer we already knew about, and Eddie Hutchinson, Matt Day, Yemi Odubade, and Matty Taylor weren’t massive surprises either. Barry Quinn, Chris Willmott, and Craig Nelthorpe were less expected; Chris Wilder has certainly shown since taken charge of the club that he knows what he’s doing though, and he no doubt has replacements in mind for all of the players soon to depart.

Lewis Haldane and Craig Farrell have both returned to the clubs from whence they came, whilst Joe Burnell and Chris Carruthers have both been told that they can speak to other clubs in the summer. Both players have a year left to run on their contracts, neither player seemingly figures in Chris Wilder’s plans though, and twelve players it seems will be removed from what is already a fairly small squad to begin with.

Shane Killock and Kevin Sandwith have both been offered new deals with United, and the club is also in talks with Sheffield United about signing Adam Chapman. Hopefully there’ll be many fresh faces brought into the club this summer, and next season will start as this season finished. If Chris Wilder can keep up the momentum, then Oxford United will be promoted next season, and we just need to hope that the players coming in are able to adequately replace those that are leaving.

Billy Turley will now be the only player left from our Football League days, many players have come in and out of the club in the last few seasons, and I just hope now that year four in the Conference is the one where we’re able to climb out of it. Automatic promotion next season would be glorious; promotion via the play-offs wouldn’t be too bad a result either though, so here’s to hoping that Oxford United finishes in the top five next season, and that the club is able to return to its rightful place within England’s Football League.

Oxford United Sign Kevin Sandwith

Kevin Sandwith has today joined Oxford United from troubled Weymouth until the end of the season. With James Clarke having today moved across Oxford to join Oxford City, Sandwith now comes into the Oxford United squad in order to help the club try and push for promotion.

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James Clarke and Joe Burnell Allowed to Leave

Chris Wilder has made it public knowledge that James Clarke and Joe Burnell do not feature in his future plans for the club and that he’s therefore looking for other clubs for them to join.

Speaking with Oufc.co.uk, Chris Wilder made it known that the decision had been hard as both players are hard working professionals, “However the simple truth is that I have other ideas and other plans and sadly neither Joe or James really fit into those.”

Chris Wilder went on to state that "We have circulated their names and details to clubs and will try and help them find new clubs."

James Clarke’s contract is up at the end of the season and the club will not be offering him an extension, Burnell meanwhile is contracted to the club until the end of the 2009/10 campaign, but U’s manager Chris Wilder will be looking to move him on sooner rather than later so that he can start building a team that’s really his for the future.

Weymouth defender Kevin Sandwith is expected to sign for Oxford tomorrow.

Craig Farrell Joins Oxford United on Loan

With 19 year-old Ricky Sappleton having returned to Leicester after a one month spell with Oxford; Craig Farrell has been brought in on loan from York City until the end of the season.

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FA Trophy Action Against York City

Oxford United has not been in action now since a 2-0 win over Salisbury City on January 1st. During which time the club has been deducted 5 Blue Square Premier points, and brought in two new players in the form of loan signings Adam Chapman and Shane Killock.

A lot has happened at the club over the course of the last 12 days; no games have been played however, but that’s all about to change as Oxford host York City this evening in the FA Trophy. With the points deduction having more or less ruled out the play-offs this season for Oxford; the FA Trophy provides the team with its one chance to redeem something from the 2008/09 campaign.

The team will hopefully show a lot of fight in this evening’s game, a win really needs to be achieved after all the negativity that has surrounded the club of late, and having the team head through to the next round of the FA Trophy would be absolutely excellent to see.

It has been a bad week for Oxford, a win would be a fine way to round off such a week however, and if the club can win tonight then hopefully this can be the start of a spectacular end of season run. If the team can win tonight in the FA Trophy then the club will be into the last sixteen and well on its way to the finals.

Five more FA Trophy games need to be won in order for Oxford to lift the Trophy, and under the management of Chris Wilder I truly believe that this is well within the clubs grasp.

Tonight the club faces a very important game, and I have full faith in Oxford United’s ability to win this evening and go on to lift the trophy in May. Good luck to Oxford United for this evening, and here’s to hoping that the night ends with a win.

Five Points Deducted From Oxford United

After speculation that the club would be deducted eleven points for fielding an unregistered player in the form of Eddie Hutchinson; Oxford United has been deducted five Blue Square Premier League points, and fined an initial £500, with an additional fine of £3,500 suspended until May 2010.

Crawley Town and Bognor Regis Town have both been fined and deducted points for similar offences. A Football Conference Disciplinary Panel meeting was held yesterday, and it was then that decisions were made as to what would happen to each of the three clubs.

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Oxford United Sign Ricky Sappleton

Nineteen year old Ricky Sappleton has joined Oxford United on a one month’s loan deal from Leicester City. The Jamaican born striker spent a month on loan at Bournemouth earlier in the season, and should Sappleton impress at Oxford during January then it’s possible that his loan deal could be lengthened.

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