Time was right to depart — Smalley

DEANE Smalley, pictured in the colours of his new employers Oxford United.

DEANE Smalley has revealed his mind was virtually made up to leave Athletic at the start of the year.

The 22-year-old rejected a contract offer to stay at Boundary Park, instead opting to pen a two-year deal at npower League Two outfit Oxford United, who paid an undisclosed fee for his services.

Despite being told last month that he had a future at Athletic, Smalley was already upset that Dickov gave the green light for his emergency loan spell at Chesterfield — which ran from November 1 to January 29 — to be extended until the end of the season.

However, there are mitigating circumstances for the Scot.

Even though Smalley had scored four goals in five games by the end of January, it came when Athletic were full of beans and in among the play-off places.

By the time Dickov’s men lost form and the goals dried up, they were unable to recall Smalley, as the deal did not include a call-back option.

He went on to score a further eight goals at the b2net Stadium.

The striker said: “I was offered a new deal at Oldham and the manager told me I was in his plans, but I scored lots of goals this season and he didn't recall me, so I just felt the time was right to move."

Now the Chadderton lad is looking to his future at Oxford.

He added: “I played here for Chesterfield at the end of the season as was very impressed with everything.

“I spoke to the manager (Chris Wilder) and chairman (Kelvin Thomas) last week and they really made up my mind.”

Wilder said: “Deane is a player we have tracked thoroughly for the past five months. We have monitored his progress since he came through the youth ranks at Oldham.”




CARL Winchester made a cameo appearance for Northern Ireland under-21s in their goalless midweek draw with the Faroe Islands.



The 18-year-old full-back, who earned his first senior cap in the Carling Nations Cup defeat to Scotland last week, came on for the last eight

minutes to help his side keep a clean sheet in the Euro 2013 qualifier.

The Faroe Islands had a golden opportunity to win the contest in front of their fans, but skipper Rogvi Holm saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Connor Devlin.

Winchester is likely to be selected for the next qualifier — against the Faroes in August.