Oxford United today announced their retained list for next season. Or rather, they announced who wouldn't be retained, which amounts to much the same thing. Of those players out of contract, Matt Day and the Rage Online Sponsored Eddie Odhiambo-Anaclet are in talks with the club about new deals, presumably meaning that Day is no longer transfer listed. However, young Danny Rose is being released, as are Rob Duffy, Craig McAllister, and Carl Pettefer, the last of whom is likely to end up with AFC Bournemouth.

Of the crop of loan players who finished the season at United, Oxford will not be looking to keep Justin Richards, his Kidderminster Harriers colleague Michael Blackwood, who has also been released by Kiddy, nor Jamie Hand. However, they will be talking to Matt Green and Michael Howard to see if they can strike a deal to sign them on permanently. Howard has returned to Morecambe, where he has another year under contract, but has stated his desire to stay at United. Green is out of contract at Cardiff City.

Of the remainder, Eddie Hutchinson, Alexandre Jeannin, and Joel Ledgister (who featured last night at Kettering Town) all remain transfer listed, while the club's statement implies (through omission) that Yemi Odubade has been removed from the list. In addition, young striker Matt Taylor has been offered a professional contract.

Assuming that the three transfer-listed players are not utilised next season, and that those with whom the club are negotiating do sign, this leaves a core squad of just 13 professionals, plus a few youngsters such as Alex Fisher and Declan Benjamin. Darren Patterson has stated that he knows who his transfer targets are, so it's going to be an interesting summer in terms of squad building. We reckon that he needs to sign at least seven new players to complement the retained players.