Energy and enthusiasm – they're among the key ingredients fans will see from Oxford United's two new signings Dannie Bulman and Alex Rhodes.

Manager Chris Wilder completed the capture of the duo, with experienced midfielder Bulman signing a two-year contract and joining on a free from Crawley Town, and left winger Rhodes coming from Rotherham United on a shorter deal.

Former Wycombe and Stevenage player Bulman has played against the U's many times before, and although he's now 30, he says he's still got a lot left in the tank.

"I've been in this league for a while, and I want to get out of it," he said.

"I'm not getting any younger, but I feel I've still got a lot to give and I'm going to give it all I've got for Oxford."

Asked what he felt his attributes were, Bulman replied: "Very energetic, I get up and down the park and I've got a never-say-die attitude."

Both players also have good quality for Conference level, with 27-year-old Rhodes having spent six seasons with Brentford, and then one at Bradford and last season at Millmoor.

He too is one who will graft for the cause.

Asked what suppporters can expect from him, Rhodes responded: "Lots of energy and a never-say-die attitude."

He added: "The manager and I spoke about where he wants to be with the club for next season and the following seasons, and what he expects from the players, and what we can expect from him.

"And from what I've heard, it should be enjoyable. I've spoken to quite a few players about Oxford, one who was here last season, another who's here now, and there hasn't been a bad word said about the club."

Bulman said United, likely to be one of the favourites for promotion, is the only club he had eyes on.

And his move certainly wasn't about money, as Crawley's outspoken manager, Steve Evans, had claimed.

"I heard there was interest from Oxford," he admitted. "Crawley said they wanted to keep me on the same sort of contract, so I told them I wanted to keep my options open.

"I came down and spoke to Chris Wilder and after that there was only one place I wanted to be. He's a good manager . . . he didn't have to sell the club, we had our chat by the pitch and it's a nice stadium.

"I've played against Oxford a few times in the League, and in non-League. It's a massive club and they should be back in the League. It's all geared up to go there, but the hard bit is getting the points on the board.

"Chris said we want to play football the right way, he's got the right mentality, and hopefully I can bring something to the table."

Bulman almost joined Oxford a year ago, following talks with former boss Darren Patterson.

Wilder is delighted to have got him, and not for the fortune that Evans had suggested.

He said: "Dannie wanted to come here for football reasons. The 'blown out of the water' quote from the manager is way off the mark.

"We're talking £25, possible £50 (a week) from what he's getting to what he was getting at Crawley. And we think we can justify that because we're getting average crowds of 5,500 and we get 10,000 for the last game of the season.

"One thing I can say is that I think Evans was right on is that we're getting a really good professional, and a very good player."

* Winger Craig Nelthorpe, who joined the U's midway through last season and was released at the end of the campaign, has joined York City.