MICHAEL Appleton took the positives from Blackpool’s unsuccessful pursuit of Cameron Brannagan after the midfielder decided to stay at Oxford United.

The Sky Bet Championship club triggered the seven-figure release clause in the 26-year-old’s contract, allowing them to enter talks with the U’s No 8.

Brannagan is understood to have travelled to the north west yesterday and United head coach Karl Robinson suggested a move was on the cards.

READ MORE: Cameron Brannagan signs new Oxford United contract

But in a dramatic turn of events, the U’s offered their star a new three-year deal and he returned to Oxfordshire late last night to sign the contract.

Blackpool have now unsuccessfully tried to buy Brannagan in the last three transfer windows after seeing bids rejected in summer 2021 and last January.

But head coach Appleton, who managed United from 2014 to 2017, focused on the fact the Tangerines were able to table such a big offer.

“I was delighted with the fact we were able, as a football club, to even be in a position to be able to do that,” Appleton told the Blackpool Gazette.

“That just shows we can do it and we have got the capability to do it.

“But clearly he must have been offered an incredible contract to stay and play at that level, where the lure of the Championship wasn’t enough to prise him away from a football club I know all too well.”

He added: “The biggest thing for me is that you want players who want to come and play for the football club.

“This is a fantastic football club and I’m aware of that. It’s got an unbelievable and incredibly well-supported group of fans.

“They don’t want to see a footballer coming to this club and not want to play for the club, end of story.

“If we’re going to sign a player that’s going to improve us, we need to make sure we bring in the players who are going to fight for the shirt and give it every single week on the pitch.”