MIKE Ford's ten-year spell at the Manor Ground is over after Oxford United's long-serving skipper was handed a free transfer in the retained list announced today.

The 32-year-old defender is one of three players to be released by manager Malcolm Shotton, along with midfielder Stuart Massey and striker Martin Aldridge.

Ford joined Oxford for £150,000 from Cardiff City in June 1988, and made 288 league appearances for United, scoring 18 goals.

His whole-hearted approach to the game made him a favourite with the fans, but this season he has been dogged by injury.

He turned down moves to Blackpool and Stoke during the campaign, and his release now marks the end of an era.

Ford played what turned out to be his last game for United in the 2-0 home defeat by Birmingham last month, ironically scoring an own goal which set the Blues on the way to victory.

Massey was another hugely popular player with the fans for his never-say-die style of play.

Signed by Denis Smith after he was released from Crystal Palace four years ago, the 33-year-old midfielder made 100 league appearances for United, scoring nine goals. His fate always looked inevitable after he suffered a career-threatening injury in a tackle with Peter Beardsley at Maine Road in March.

Aldridge tended to flatter to deceive, having failed to fulfil the early promise he showed after being signed on a free transfer from Northampton three years ago.

The 23-year-old striker showed a real goal-poacher's instinct when scoring nine goals in 18 league games as United won promotion from Division 2 in 1995-96.

But he struggled to make the same impact in Division 1, despite scoring eight in 30 games the following season.

And he found it even tougher this term, netting just once in 20 league games - many of them as substitute - before spending a couple of months on loan at Southend.

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