DAVID Oldfield has left Oxford City to join Vanarama National League side Weymouth.

The ex-Oxford United player departs after almost two years at Court Place Farm, with the club fourth in Vanarama National League South.

He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at Weymouth, who are 21st in the fifth tier and parted company with manager Brian Stock last week.

First-team coaches Andy Ballard and Ross Jenkins will be in caretaker charge during the search for Oldfield’s replacement.

Director of football Justin Merritt said: “David goes with our thanks and we wish him well for the future.

“He leaves the team in great shape and the club remains fully focused on our continued progression.

“There is now a fantastic opportunity for someone to come in and continue to take us forward.”

The move has materialised quickly, with Weymouth understood to have first asked City for permission to speak to Oldfield after Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Billericay Town.

The National League strugglers were given the green light and made contact with the 53-year-old yesterday morning.

Oldfield is understood to have met his new team today after Weymouth paid a release clause to take him away from City.

It follows a successful, albeit interrupted, 22 months at Court Place Farm for the ex-U’s man.

After being appointed in March 2020, Oldfield had to wait almost seven months between his first and second competitive games after the coronavirus pandemic halted the 2019/20 season and delayed the start of the next campaign.

City made up for lost time by reaching the second round of the 2020/21 Emirates FA Cup, equalling their best performance in the competition.

They beat Weymouth 3-2 on the way, before knocking out Sky Bet League One side Northampton Town on live TV in the first round proper.

City then lost in extra time to third-tier outfit Shrewsbury Town after matching their higher-division opponents.

Meanwhile, the club were fourth in National League South when the season was controversially halted in February and they progressed further than ever before in the Buildbase FA Trophy, going down at Notts County in the quarter-finals.

City have stayed among the front-runners in the sixth tier this season and went top of the table on Boxing Day.

“The club is naturally disappointed to lose David but understand his reasons and respect it was a difficult decision for him,” a statement read.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to David for the work he has undertaken, with some notable unbeaten runs, FA cup and FA Trophy successes as well as consistent performances at the top end of National League South.”

City are inviting applications for the vacant manager role and have set a deadline of February 4.