STRIKER Jermaine McSporran is determined to make the most of his big chance after his record-breaking move from Oxford City to Wycombe Wanderers.

The 21-year-old forward, whose lightning pace has attracted a host of top clubs and saw him score twice for Arsenal Reserves during a week's trial at Highbury, signed for Division 2's bottom club yesterday.

Neither City nor Wycombe would reveal the fee, but it's understood to be around £100,000 - and that easily beats City's previous record of £20,000 they received from Yeovil for Howard Forinton.

McSporran, who is hoping he may be a substitute for Wycombe at Northampton tomorrow, said: "Obviously we will see how it goes, but I want to make the most of it.

"First-team football is what I want and that is what I have been striving for."

McSporran, who worked for a security company, has netted seven times in the last eight games for City after failing to score in the first eight games. And he added: "Obviously it is going to be a lot more nerve-wracking from playing in front of 200 to about 6,000 people at home games."

Wycombe manager Neil Smillie said: "Jermaine has something that you can't actually teach - he has got pace. And if he learns the other parts of the game, and if he is able to transfer that pace into something higher up, I think we would have a player on our hands."

City chairman Mick Woodley said: "We are delighted it is settled and he moves with the best wishes of everyone at Oxford City.

"Jermaine's transfer sounds another clear message to young players in the area that if they join Oxford City they have every chance of progressing to a higher level."

I understand the deal involved sell-on clauses, as did McSporran's £1,500 transfer from Abingdon Town a year ago, which it is believed will see the Culham Road club pick up 35 per cent of the Wycombe fee.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.