Oxford United has come under fire from youth football clubs which say it takes their most talented players but does not do enough to support them.

Children as young as nine are regularly signed up by the professional club, but local league clubs who trained them are offered no warning, managers say.

While other professional clubs such as Chelsea, Southampton and Luton contacted them first, local managers say Oxford United does not.

Smaller clubs suffer, with talented players leaving mid-season without warning to compete in six-week trials for Oxford United.

But United's youth development officer Les Taylor said the club did offer support to local clubs, including free coaching days -- but they did not take it up for fear of having players poached.

Kenny Moore, vice-chairman of St Edmund's Football Club, Abingdon, said not enough was done to help grass roots clubs.

He said: "They could come and help with our own training sessions. Instead they write to us, expect us to send them all our brilliant players and we never hear from them again.

"Our under 12s have just lost three players in one season. Oxford United took on two of our players, but told them they could not complete the season with us.

"They refused to sign and went to another professional club later. Yet Oxford United claimed they had trained them and asked for thousands of pounds compensation from the other club. St Edmund's gets nothing."

Mr Moore added: "We've asked Oxford United to come to our meetings to discuss the issues, but they won't.

"They just rob us of our talent."

Tom Doliamie, secretary to Morris Motors Football Club in Oxford, said: "We want to see young children make something of themselves. We know, long term, their future is not with us, but a professional club could act more ethically."

Oxford United's Les Taylor said the attack on his club was a case of sour grapes.

He said: "We always ask parents to get permission from the boy's club manager.

"We have to go out and find players. It's difficult. Perception needs to change and we're open to suggestions."