Townsley signs

Derek Townsley today signed a two year contract to make him Ian Atkins' first signing of the new season. Townsley, at 6'5″, becomes United's tallest player since Kevin Francis and gives a clear signal as to the type of football we can expect United to be playing next season (a la Ben Futcher at Lincoln). Townsley is allegedly more skillful than he looks. He was a utility player at Hibs, but never got a good run in the side. He's really a right-sided midfielder and he scores goals too. Hibs only released him because they were desperate to cut their wage bill; apparently he'd been promised a new contract but Hibs went back on their word. Townsley wasn't too happy about that and posted about it on Hibsnet under the pseudonym of Marco Polo. By all accounts he seems a decent enough chap.

Strikers by the bucketload

Not content with signing the towering Scottish midfielder (who's actually English, having been born in Carlisle) Atkins was today having talks with two strikers, including the 6'5″ (recognise that statistic?) Julian Alsop, currently at Cheltenham. He was the relegated club's leading scorer last season, and also struck up a formidable partnership with Tony Naylor when Cheltenham went up the previous season. Alsop has been told to try and find another club, but he can still carry on at the Robins if he's unsuccessful in his quest. Alsop has been described as a slower, but more committed, version of Paul Moody.

United are also talking to out-of-contract forward Leo Fortune-West, who was strongly linked with the Us last Summer too. Fortune-West has just been released by Cardiff City and he has a lot of similar qualities to Jefferson Louis, only he's much better at them (holding the ball up, scoring goals, winning headers, that sort of thing).

Talking of Paul Moody, as we were, the former United man has just signed for Wessex League side Gosport Borough.

Meanwhile Dave Savage has admitted that he's talking to Bristol Rovers, but has denied that he's on the verge of signing for them. Townsley's arrival at United, though, must make Savo's departure more likely. Also rumoured to be possibly leaving are Simon King, also linked to the Gas, and Matt Bound.

We're Welsh, and we know we are

United's reserves will be playing in a whole new division next season. With the Football Combination being newly sponsored by Pontins Holidays (apparently just beating Butlins to this prestigious prize) the league has been restructured and United find themselves competing in the Wales and West Division, being as we're in the South Midlands, obviously. The format returns to playing clubs both home and away, with Oxford's opponents being: AFC Bournemouth, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff City, Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle, Reading, Swansea City, and last and least swindon town.