David Savage has been offered a new deal to stay at Oxford United.

Dave SavageU's chairman Firoz Kassam said last night that the supporters' player of the year has been made an offer, despite reports to the contrary.

Savage told the Sportsmail the previous day that Kassam had told him to find another club, after blaming him for United's failure to reach the play-offs.

But Kassam said: "If that was the case, I wouldn't have sat down with the guy (Savage) and offered him something, which I have done."

Kassam also revealed that he is waiting to hear if Andy Scott and Steve Basham, two more out of contract players, will also sign new deals with the club.

"I am waiting for Andy Scott to come back to me, but I am hoping he will sign," Kassam said.

"Basham has been given an offer, so I am just waiting on a couple more responses and then I will know who we have managed to retain and who we need to bring in after that."

Meanwhile, United's most experienced player, David Oldfield, will not be donning his boots for the team again.

But the Australian-born striker may get the offer to work for United in a coaching or scouting capacity.

Oldfield joined the U's from Peterborough a year ago and was a key figure in the team's push for promotion last season with his intelligent link-up play and occasional spectacular goals.

His experience of more than 600 league and cup appearances was a big asset, and he was often able to pass on his knowledge of the game to the younger players.

But the former Luton, Leicester and Manchester City player's age - he is 35 at the end of this month - was always going to count against him, and manager Ian Atkins has admitted he is not being considered for a playing role at the club.

"David Oldfield and Roy Hunter are on the back-burner for then moment," Atkins said.

"With the money I've got available in my players' budget, I'm not looking at David having a player's contract. There may be something on the other side, because the coaching and scouting roles need sorting out, but that has not yet been decided."

Atkins has admitted that Paul McCarthy remains his No 1 centre back target.

Just before the transfer deadline, the U's boss travelled up to Lancashire to watch Blackpool captain Ian Hughes, who has now been given a free.

But he said McCarthy, who impressed when on loan from Wycombe at the end of the season, is the one he really wants.

"We've spoken to McCarthy," he said. "The areas of the team that I want to strengthen won't change.

"I'm trying to get a balance between youth and experience.