Oxford Utd

Oxford allow goalkeeper Cox to go
Oxford United have released 21-year-old goalkeeper Simon Cox. Injury and Chris Tardif's form limited Cox to just three-first team outings last season for Oxford. "It's sad because I've had three great years at Oxford, but's time to move on. It's best for me and best for the club," said Cox. "There are no hard feelings. I will be hoping they have a great season and win promotion this year," Cox told the club's official website.

Hargreaves close to Oxford switch
Oxford United are set to sign Brentford midfielder Chris Hargreaves. Hargreaves, 33, has passed a medical at the Kassam Stadium and has accepted a two-year deal. "I would've been happy for him to stay but I must look to improve and Chris must also look for security," Bees boss Martin Allen told his club's website. Hargreaves joined Brentford last summer from Northampton Town following earlier spells with Plymouth, Hull City and Grimsby Town.

Hargreaves completes Oxford move
Oxford United have signed Brentford midfielder Chris Hargreaves. Hargreaves, 33, has passed a medical at the Kassam Stadium and has accepted a two-year contract. "I would have been happy for him to stay, but I must look to improve and Chris must look for security," boss Martin Allen told the Bees' website. However, Oxford have terminated the contract of defender Terry Parker, 21, after he was handed an 18-month custodial sentence for affray. Parker was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court following a serious incident in a bar in the city. He joined the U's from Portsmouth last summer but made only eight League appearances, and was loaned out to Farnborough in March.

Wanless seals Forest Green move
Former Oxford United midfielder Paul Wanless has become Forest Green's second new signing of the summer. Wanless has agreed a 12-month deal at The Lawn after being released by Oxford at the end of last season. The 31-year-old spent two spells with the U's, either side of a brief stay at Lincoln City and a lengthy stint at Cambridge United. Wanless follows former Kidderminster striker Ian Foster in joining Rovers since their reprieve from relegation.

Mackay signs up with Livingston
Livingston have signed former Dundee right-back Dave Mackay after the 24-year-old left Oxford United. New Livi manager Paul Lambert says he will be an important part of the first team this season. "Dave is a strong young player," said Lambert. "He wanted to come home and we are very pleased to have signed him. "We have been looking for a right back especially because of the injury sustained by David McNamee. Dave can also play centre back." Mackay has made 47 appearances for Oxford after joining from Dundee last summer. "His arrival gives us some options in defence, which has been a priority for me," said Lambert. "We continue to look at players in certain positions. "The emphasis has got to be on signing players who will strengthen the team in key areas. "I am not interested in signing squad players as we have a good core squad and we also have young guys knocking at the door of the first team this season." Mackay told the Oxford website: "It's a decision I've taken for my family. It's personal, rather than anything to do with the football. "I'm leaving on the best of terms with everyone and looking forward to getting myself sorted out in Scotland again."

Injured U's stars begin comeback
Oxford manager Brian Talbot will be hoping for some good news on the injury front after the reserve team play Southend on Wednesday. Jamie Brooks is due to make his first appearance of the season after a hip problem, alongside Danny Morgan, who scored against Wycombe at the weekend. Rob Wolleaston and Mark E'Beyer return in midfield, and trialist Neil Barrett hopes for better luck than last time. He was taken off for stitches in a head wound four minutes into his last game.

Gillingham 1-0 Oxford Utd
Matt Jarvis scored a late winner as Gillingham saw off the challenge of Oxford in the Carling Cup. Jarvis struck from close range with seven minutes left after good approach work from Darren Byfield. Gillingham wasted numerous chances, with Oxford keeper Chris Tardif making saves to deny Jarvis, Byfield and substitute Andy Hessenthaler. Oxford came close but Gills keeper Jason Brown saved from Rob Hughes, Danny Morgan and Craig Davies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gillingham: Brown, Rose, Cox, Hope, Jackman, Jarvis, Pouton (Hessenthaler 61), Flynn, Crofts, Byfield, Claridge (Sancho 90). Subs Not Used: Knowles, Corneille, Shields. Goals: Jarvis 83. Oxford Utd: Tardif, Mansell, Stirling, Roget, Robinson, Quinn, Bradbury (Beechers 89), Gray, Hughes (Hackett 73), Morgan, Davies (Basham 73). Subs Not Used: Ashton, Turley. Att: 4,149 Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).

Oxford add Sabin to strikeforce
Oxford boss Brian Talbot has boosted his strikeforce with the addition of Northampton's Eric Sabin. Sabin, 30, has signed a two-year deal after arriving on a free transfer. Former Swindon striker Sabin scored 13 goals in 57 League appearances for the Cobblers after joining them from QPR in March 2004. Talbot has also handed a trial to former Middlesbrough and Ipswich striker Alun Armstrong, 30, who is a free agent after leaving Darlington.

Talbot says Oxford robbed by ref
Boss Brian Talbot claimed Oxford were robbed of their first away win of the season at Bristol Rovers. The Oxford boss claimed Rovers' scorer Richard Walker fouled Leo Roget as he notched the equaliser. Talbot told the Oxford Mail: "We've been cheated of a win by a poor decision, Leo Roget was pushed in the back by Richard Walker. "The referee got most things right in the game but he got that one wrong and that was a major decision."

Rochdale 0-1 Oxford Utd
Oxford United climbed to eighth in the table with victory at Spotland. The first half was a scrappy affair in which both teams failed to pose a genuine threat in front of goal. Rory McArdle went close with a header from Rickie Lambert's corner and Lambert went close with a shot which Billy Turley saved. Barry Quinn won it for Oxford on the hour when his effort took a wicked deflection off Steve Basham's boost and trickled across the line. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rochdale: Gilks, Jaszczun, Griffiths, McArdle (Goodall 66), Gallimore, Clarke, Warner, Jones, Holt, Sturrock, Lambert (Tait 83). Subs Not Used: Woodhall, Boardman, Brown. Booked: McArdle, Clarke, Holt. Oxford Utd: Turley, Roget, Willmott, Ashton, Mansell, Quinn, Bradbury, Robinson, Basham, Sabin, Davies. Subs Not Used: Tardif, Stirling, Hughes, Campbell, McCoy. Booked: Mansell, Roget. Goals: Quinn 60. Att: 2,347 Ref: K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Oxford fined over away kit mix-up
Oxford have been fined by the Football League following a mix-up over their kit during last week's League Two game. Oxford were penalised after turning up to the goalless draw at Barnet on 1 October with the same colour kit as their opponents. The U's took only their black away strip to Underhill, not realising that Barnet had changed their home kit to black this season. They were then forced to play in their orange training shirts and socks.

Oxford loan Winters to Brackley
Oxford United midfielder Tom Winters, 20, has joined Southern League Western Division side Brackley Town on loan. Winters has been troubled by injury this season and is yet to add to his six first-team appearances for the U's. "Tom needs games so this is a great chance for him to come and play, get sharp and then come back and stake his claim," said Brackley boss Mike Ford. "He has plenty of quality and I hope he'll do very well for us during his stay," Ford told Oxford's website.

Easter set for Aston Gate switch
Bristol City have agreed a fee with Stockport County for striker Jermaine Easter, reports Sir Stanley. Easter had earlier rejected the chance of joining Oxford. Stockport and Oxford had agreed a fee of £120,000, for the 24-year-old, who has scored 11 times this season since joining Stockport from Boston. Easter, who has started his career as a trainee at Wolves, is expected to come to Ashton Gate to discuss personal terms on Friday. League Two leaders Wycombe were also chasing the former Hartlepool and Cambridge striker, who scored twice against John Gorman's side this season.

Wolleaston seals Cambridge move
Cambridge United have former Oxford midfielder Rob Wolleaston. The 26-year-old has agreed non-contract terms at the Abbey Stadium following his departure from Oxford in October. Wolleaston, who started his career at Chelsea, signed in time to make his debut in Cambridge's defeat at Altrincham on Saturday. Meanwhile, U's boss Rob Newman has released defender David Chick, 25, following six Conference appearances earlier this season

Relief at Tardif injury verdict
Oxford have been boosted by the news that goalkeeper Chris Tardif's arm injury is not as bad as was feared. He left the field in Saturday's game after a third-minute collision with Cheltenham striker Damian Spencer. Tardif, 24, went to hospital but was allowed home the same evening and reported to Oxford's training ground on Monday with only a few bruises. "It looks like I'll be out for a month but it's better than I expected," Tardif told the club website.

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