Striker James Constable has signed a two-year deal at Eastleigh after rejecting a new contract at Oxford United.

The 29-year-old forward decided against signing the new deal offered to him by the club earlier this month, instead opting for a move to the newly promoted Conference Premier side at the Silverlake Stadium.

‘Beano’ netted 106 goals during his Oxford career, just one goal shy of equalling Graham Atkinson’s all-time leading record of 107 for the Us.

Constable arrived at the Kassam Stadium initially on-loan from Shrewsbury Town back in 2008 before making the move permanent a year later.

The former Kidderminster Harriers and Walsall hitman was United’s top goalscorer in each season for six consecutive years, with his fierce strike against York City in the Conference play-off final back in May 2010 being one of his finest moments in a Yellow shirt.

He said: “I have absolutely loved my time at the club and would like to thank everyone for making my time there so special.

“The fans have been unbelievable and I can’t thank them enough for everything. The club has been a massive part of my life for the last six years and it’s sad to be leaving but now I am looking forward to the next stage of my career.”

Meanwhile Oxford manager Gary Waddock added: “James has been a great servant to this club and a pleasure to work with. We respect his decision and wish him well as he moves on to a fresh challenge.”

After six tremendous years with the Yellows, the former England C international quickly penned a two-year contract with the Spitfires who were crowned Conference South champions this campaign, delighting Eastleigh boss Richard Hill.

“James was keen to stay at Oxford and overhaul the club’s scoring record – a feat that after six years of committed service he was desperate to achieve,” he said.

“He was initially holding out in the hope that Oxford would offer him fair terms to stay and do that. Oxford’s loss, though, is definitely our gain.

“James is exactly the type of player that Eastleigh need to be signing, not only to meet our immediate objective to establish ourselves in next season’s Conference Premier, but as a statement of where we view this club going in the long term.

“Don’t misinterpret James dropping down a level as representing any lack of personal ambition.”