Joel Ledgister's unhappy time at Oxford United ended yesterday when both parties agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent.

The 20-year-old eaves the club after just one year of unfulfilled promise.

He made seven starts plus three substitute appearances after joining from Southend a year ago, having impressed when playing on loan for Gravesend & Northfleet (now Ebbsfleet Utd).

However, he was unable to hold down a regular first-team place at United, and went out on loan to Blue Square South club Hayes & Yeading towards the end of the season.

United manager Darren Patterson said: "It hasn't worked for Joel at Oxford and we've agreed that it's in everyone's best interests if he moves on and makes a fresh start somewhere else.

"There's nothing personal in it, Joel is a decent lad and we wish him well for the future."

The young winger's over-casual attitude did not endear him to the U's management.

Last month Patterson made it clear that the three players still under contract who he wanted to offload - Eddie Hutchinson and Alex Jeannin are the other two - would not be involved in his first-team plans next season.

Jeannin has since come out to insist he wants to fight his way back into the team, but all three seem likely to be playing their football elsewhere come August.