OXFORD United are ready to offload some of their strikers in a bid to balance their squad.

Boss Denis Smith has sent a circular to all the clubs in the country to alert them that Kevin Francis, Steve Anthrobus, Derek Lilley and Ben Abbey are available.

Seven clubs, including Premiership outfit Derby County, watched last night's reserve match against Ipswich Town at the Manor Ground when Lilley, Francis and Abbey all featured. Steve Anthrobus's wife was ill so he was unable to play. United Reserves lost 2-0.

Smith said: "I've circulated the fact that at the moment I've got extra strikers. Last weekend I had Anthrobus playing wide on the left and I've had Lilley wide on the right because we're top-heavy with strikers but in the last match didn't have enough defenders. And it was the same with our reserve team. "Technically everybody in the club, indeed everyone in football, is available for transfer. But I've just told other League clubs that we've got more strikers than we need."

All four were signed by former manager Malcolm Shotton.

Anthrobus and Lilley began the season as the first-choice strike force but have managed a paltry seven goals between them - with Anthrobus finding the net only twice. Francis has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries while Abbey, who cost £25,000 from Crawley Town, has yet to make a first-team start.

Against Ipswich Res, Abbey and Lilley had shots saved before Neil Midgley put the visitors ahead from a corner after 28 minutes

In the opening 90 seconds of the second half Jonas Axeldal struck the bar with the first of three headers.

Three minutes from the end, Andre Arendse dropped a header by Richard Logan and Joppnas Axeldal tapped in Ipswich's second.

Oxford Utd Res: Arendse, Folland, King, Lewis, McIntosh, Shepheard, Lilley (Hackett 65), Whitehead, Francis, Abbey, Cook. Subs: Hamp, Brooks, Spence, Holder (not used).

Atterndance: 94

Story date: Thursday 02 March

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