Following swiftly on the departures of Paul Wanless and Danny Brown, United’s new manager Brian Talbot has told Oxford’s second keeper, Simon Cox, that he can leave on a free transfer if he can find another club. Translated, this means that his career at Oxford is effectively over, although he will presumably remain on the payroll until he can find somewhere else to go.

Cox made his Oxford debut in the home game against then league leaders Doncaster last season, in Graham Rix’s first game in charge. He gave a man-of-the-match performance as he kept a clean sheet with a series of excellent saves to earn United a point. This season, though, Cox has remained as Chris Tardif’s deputy, and has also suffered injuries meaning that even when Tardif was unfit it was third-choice keeper Bradie Clarke who stepped in. Cox is a popular lad, and will be missed, but doubts have been expressed about the Irish under-19 international’s stature.

Meanwhile, Oxford have been busy trying to fix up some pre-season friendlies. Currently, the only one earmarked is a game at Yeading, on Saturday 16 July . United are also looking at possible games against Didcot and Aylesbury, and presumably the annual curtain-raiser against Oxford City.