OXFORD United skipper Phil Gilchrist is recovering well from his summer knee operation and is confident of being fit for when the players return to pre-season training in the first week of July.

o The centre back was troubled by the knee problem at the end of last season, but delayed an op until after the play-offs.

He has now gone under the knife and the cartilage damage has been repaired.

Gilchrist was forced to play through the pain barrier in United's play-off matches against Exeter.

He told the club's official website: "The operation was successful and I've been working hard to get myself ready again.

"Obviously you take time to get over a play-off defeat, but I've taken the frustration out on the gym equipment and can't wait to get started again.

"We came so close last year and will do everything we can to go that extra step this time around."

Meanwhile, United will learn details of the TV coverage that clubs in the Blue Square Premier League can expect next season at Saturday's league AGM in Bournemouth.

Chairman Nick Merry and general manager and secretary Mick Brown will both attend the meeting, where among the items under discussion is the TV coverage, following a presentation by Trevor East, Setanta Sports' director of sport.

Setanta have already announced that they will be screening 79 matches next season from the newly-named Blue Square League, but this includes the play-offs and games from the North and South divisions as well as from the Premier.

There is also a new Setanta Cup, a league cup competition, in which North and South division clubs are also involved.

This is in addition to the FA Carlsberg Trophy, for the senior non-League clubs.

Trevor Moules, the Blue Square League's director of operations, confirmed that clubs will benefit considerably from the Setanta deal.

Although he would not disclose any figures, he said: "It represents a considerable increase on what the Conference clubs earned from television last year."

He added: "All the details of the TV deal will be announced to the AGM by Trevor East."

Brown added: "Some supporters have been concerned that there may a lot of home matches at times other than the normal Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening kick-off times, but we have reassured them because those 79 games covers Blue Square North and South games as well."