FORMER Oxford United Women’s manager Les Taylor paid tribute to skipper Kat Nutman, who has left the club after three years.

The midfielder, who helped United reach their highest finish in Women’s Super League Two in 2015, is moving away from the area to concentrate on her work commitments.

Nutman joined the U’s in 2013 after returning from the United States and was voted the club’s player of the year in 2015.

She said: “Oxford United has been a fantastic home for me for three years, and I will always hold the club dear.

“My life and career are now taking me away from Oxford, but I will always be thankful for the years I have spent as a player here.

“I would like to thank the fans, players and all the staff both at Oxford United and at Northcourt Road for all of their support over the past three seasons.

“I wish the U’s the very best in the coming season. I’d also like to thank the Brookes performance team for their support.”

Taylor, who stepped down as manager at the end of last season, said: “Kat was a very hard worker in midfield, who led by example.

“She will be very hard to replace.”

Better news for United is that defender Jess Frampton has agreed a new deal ahead of next month’s WSL Spring Series.

The 25-year-old former Portsmouth playeris the first to re-sign for U’s and was virtually an ever-present last season when they finished second from bottom.

She said: “I’m delighted to have been given another opportunity.

“I can’t wait for us all to better ourselves in the upcoming season and show what we are really capable of.

“We were a little bit frustrated with where we finished this season.”

She was quickly followed by Lauren Haynes, who has also re-signed.

United start the new Spring Series with a home game against Everton at Abingdon United’s Northcourt Road ground on Sunday, February 12 (2pm).

This is a week after their opening WFA Cup game at Coventry United.

The club have still to appoint a successor to Taylor, who is still the U’s academy manager.

OXFORD UNITED’S FIXTURES

WOMEN’S FA CUP

Feb 5 v Coventry Utd (a).

WSL SPRING SERIES

Feb 12 v Everton (h). Feb 26 v Brighton & Hove (a). Mar 4 v London Bees (a). Mar 12 v Aston Villa (h). Apr 2 v Durham (a). Apr 15 v Sheffield (a). Apr 23 v Millwall (a). Apr 30 v Watford (h). May 21 v Doncaster Belles (h).