Source: FOOTYMAD
'Oxford United have ended their interest in Matt Paterson'
Former Southampton and Stockport County FC Striker. Echoman Chris Phillips has tweeted that League Two rivals Oxford United will not be continuing their interest in unwanted Southend United striker Matt Paterson. Matt Paterson: Luggy still has his wages to deal with Spare a thought for the Shrimpers striker Matt Paterson. Not wanted by Blues boss Paul Sturrock who has made it very clear what he thinks of the former Southampton man's ability, and probably by Shrimpers supremos Ron Martin and Tara Brady who have to continue to pay Paterson's wages for at least another year when he's going to rot away in the reserves with the odd visit to the first team bench, if he's lucky. It shows when Luggy is quoted several times that even with possible long term injuries to top scorer Barry Corr and his own son Blair he looks to bring in 'at least two other strikers', something he may find harder to do with the contract Patters is quite rightly sitting on and taking advantage of. Then again, Patterson obviously wants to play, something he seemed to do well enough while at Stockport County last term, and when League Two rivals Oxford United came calling to take him on a freebie tour to the United States he couldn't have got his passport out quick enough. (With Luggy helping him with the packing.) After a pre-season friendly with the U's before the USA trip the yellow faithful were mixed about Matt's long term prospects with the club, but off he went and started the second match of the tour against Mass United where www.oufc.co.uk wrote: 'Matt Paterson, on trail from Southend, went close in the 35th minute after a delightful ball from Damien Batt, but his effort was smothered'. And that was that, he went off just before the hour, Oxford winning 1-0 at the time, they went on to double that score, to be replaced by serial scorer James Constable, who should face us on Guy Fawkes Saturday, November 5th at Roots Hall, and away on Saturday, April 28th, the penaultimate weekend of the season. Paterson did not play in the third and final game of the tour. So it seems that was enough for U's boss Chris Wilder as according to Echo journalist Chris Phillips he will not be ending up at the Kassam Stadium, though nothing official from either club yet. Still, it would make any agreement with winger Rohan Ricketts further away than ever, right-back Ryan Leonard continues to be a far stronger bet, and as for further signings, well, Luggy might have to give Matt another chance, and not just against Luton reserves, but we are more likely to see Kyle Asante get a game. For the record, the Phillips tweet said: 'Oxford United have ended their interest in Matt Paterson'.
