Soccer course director Mark Jones has resigned from his post at Oxford United.

Mark Jones'Jonah', as he is nicknamed, had been in charge of the club's hugely successful soccer courses, which run throughout Oxfordshire, for nine years.

The Berinsfield-born player first joined the U's as a trainee and made his debut in 1980 at the age of 19.

He played most often in midfield or up front, but sometimes even as a full back, making 120 appearances and scoring seven times.

He moved to Swindon Town, before injury forced him to retire at Cardiff City.

'Jonah' returned to Oxford in 1994 and with his infectious enthusiasm, was very popular with the youngsters, many of whom progressed to United's Centre of Excellence teams.

He follows on from commercial manager Peter Davis, assistant boss Mike Ford, acting chief scout Gary Hooper and education officer Dave Nash, who have all left the club in the last few months.