ROSS Jenkins has been inundated with messages from clubs and agents looking to offer players to Oxford City after losing a key duo to loan recalls.
Goalkeeper Jack Bycroft was recalled by Sky Bet Championship side Southampton, before moving to fourth tier Swindon Town on a permanent basis, while Premier League outfit Fulham have sent striker Olly Sanderson to Sutton United in League Two on loan for the rest of the season.
Bycroft joined the Hoops at the beginning of November, and kept two clean sheets in 10 games, while Sanderson was in his second spell at the club, and had scored nine goals in 22 league games so far this campaign.
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City head coach Jenkins said: “Since those two have departed, I’ve had a ridiculous amount of messages from clubs and agents wanting their players to try and get a chance over here.
“We’ve got a good record of developing young ones, we give them a good platform to play on, and we try and play in the right manner, but we give them a good grounding and a good schooling.
“We open their eyes to the realities of football at times, sometimes they’re caught in an academy bubble.
“With those two boys moving on, it opens the door for other players to come in.”
Jenkins will now turn to Chris Haigh in goal, who was dislodged for the 10 Vanarama National League matches while Bycroft was at the club, while forward Alex Fisher was signed on loan from Yeovil Town prior to Sanderson’s exit.
Jenkins said: “We’ve got to try and add something to the squad. We’re at a valuable point in the season where fresh legs might be the answer.
“Jack is a miss, but we have Haighy, and with Olly going, we have still Fish, so we’re okay.
“I don’t think we’re going to replace Olly like-for-like. Olly is in my opinion, a special player and someone that I enjoyed working with, and helping develop.
“I think he’s got all the tools to go as far as he wants. In terms of incomings, I think we’ve got to be sensible and look at the loan market, and look at what business we can do within the restraints that we have.
“We’ll look at it over the next couple of weeks, there’s no panic and no rush, but at the same time, maybe one or two might just help us.”
Reflecting further on Sanderson’s loan recall, Jenkins said: “We’ve had him for two seasons now, and he feels like one of our own if I’m being honest.
“He didn’t feel like he was on loan because we had him last season and he contributed to helping us get promoted.”
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