Seven players fail to get new deal

3:25pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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Darren Patterson has announced his retained list at Oxford United

Craig McAllister, Justin Richards, Jamie Hand, Carl Pettefer and Danny Rose have all been told they will not be offered a deal with The U's next season, as have Rob Duffy and Michael Blackwood

The club are in discussions with Eddie Anaclet, and Matt Day to stay with the club, and would very much like to discuss signing Matt Green on a permanent basis when his contract at Cardiff ends. Eddie Hutchinson, Joel Ledgister and Alex Jeannin remain on the transfer list.

Mickey Howard has returned to Morecambe after his loan spell but the club hope to speak to him again over the summer.

Young striker Matt Taylor has also been offered a new contract.

Darren said: "It has been a hard few days. Some tough decisions have had to be made, made harder by the fact that they are all smashing lads. In the end it comes down to two factors really.

The financial restraints from the wage cap mean we have to make money available to bring in new players. We finished the season strongly but ninth place is eight places lower than we would like to be next time.

"But the biggest consideration has to be purely from a football point of view. I have targeted the players I would like to bring in and am excited about the prospects already. We will work hard all summer to bring the right players in. Hopefully Eddie, Matt Day and Matt Green will want to be a part of what we are trying to achieve.

"I'd like to thank every one of the players for their efforts, especially towards the end of this season. I think we have a strong core to next season's squad and wish those we have let go all the best for the future."