Dean Whitehead would have been Oxford United captain if he had stayed at the club, boss Graham Rix has revealed - but for now the armband is still up for grabs.

Last year's skipper Andy Crosby has joined Coca-Cola League 2 rivals Scunthorpe, and his deputy at the Kassam Stadium last season, Andy Woodman, has moved to Nationwide Conference outfit Stevenage.

Dean Whitehead would have been captain And it is unclear who manager Graham Rix will select to lead the team in the 2004-5 campaign - although there are several candidates.

He has told the Oxford Mail that, had Dean Whitehead stayed rather than move to Sunderland, the Abingdon midfielder would have been captain next season.

"For me, being the captain is just a question of going out into the middle and tossing a coin," Rix said.

"Out on the pitch, everyone in the team should be a captain, everyone should accept responsibilities.

"I have thought about the captain's position," he admitted, "but I haven't announced anything yet."

Paul Wanless, who was the club captain at his former club Cambridge, is one obvious candidate.

And if Rix wants someone who has a wealth of experience, his new striker Lee Bradbury, who has made more than 300 league appearances in all four divisions, could be in the frame.

"Lee Bradbury is a real professional who leads from the front," Rix told United's official website.

"He has very little to prove to me and I know he can't wait to get playing and show people what he can do.

"He's been at the front in the running, at the front when we've done exercises, and been better than anyone else when we've done the ball-work or anything else."

Rix will take his full first-team squad to Oxford City for this Saturday's first pre-season friendly, when fans get their first chance to see his new signings, and hopes to give as many players as possible a run-out.

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