Loyal Brown staying at Oxford United (From Bicester Advertiser)

Loyal Brown staying at Oxford United

10:30am Friday 18th May 2012 in Oxford Utd By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Loyal Brown staying at Oxford United

WAYNE Brown turned down an offer from overseas to re-sign for Oxford United out of a sense of loyalty to manager Chris Wilder.

The experienced goalkeeper signed a two-year contract with the U’s yesterday, which will see him combine playing duties with assisting coach Alan Hodgkin-son.

Brown was in no doubt about where his future lies, preferring to stay at the Kassam Stadium over an approach to return to club football in South Africa.

The 35-year-old spent a mixed season with SuperSport United, before Wilder offered him the opportunity to return to English football last summer, for which the goalkeeper remains grateful.

He said: “I had an offer to go back and play in South Africa, which was also a part-coaching role.

“But Chris helped me out last year, so I like to think I’m repaying him now.

“It’s worked out so I thought ‘the guy’s been good to me and I can’t really let him down by walking away from it’.”

Brown made just four first-team starts this season, reaching 500 career appearances in England, and will remain as back-up to Ryan Clarke.

The former Chester, Hereford and Bury stopper is not ready to hang up his gloves for several years, but is keen to take on more coaching – which will see him help develop young goalkeepers Max Crocombe and Josh Hill.

He said: “It’s a chance to progress on the coaching side, getting some help from Hodgy – I’m looking forward to it.

“I suppose it’s my apprenticeship really as a coach, it’s an ideal situation for me because I can still concentrate on play-ing.

“I believe I’ve got five or six years left in me to play and in the meantime I can build up the coaching until they want me to go full-time.

“I could play until I’m 40 easy, I’m quite a fit guy and you look up to guys like Brad Friedel and Mark Schwarzer – they’re athletes and you have to be lean and keep your head right.”

Brown missed the end of last season with a knee injury, but after a successful operation he expects to begin running again shortly.

The one remaining outstanding contract offer is for midfielder Adam Chapman, but Wilder is expecting a resolution shortly.

He said: “We’re hopefully trying to bring it to a conclusion within the next 24 hours.”