Skipper Andy Crosby has taken a big swipe at Oxford United for failing to sign Adi Viveash in time for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Dover.

Andy CrosbyAnd he told the third division club to "pull their finger out and get the job done" before the fans and players become disillusioned at whether Oxford really mean business this season.

Viveash has been the team's most influential and powerful defender during the two months he has spent at the Kassam Stadium on loan from Reading, and has helped to earn the club tens of thousands of pounds through his brilliant performances in the Worthington Cup.

But, despite promises from United chairman Firoz Kassam that Viveash could be signed if Sam Stockley's move to Colchester became permanent, nothing has yet been done.

United embarrassingly missed the deadline for the FA Cup, meaning that manager Ian Atkins has to disrupt the continuity that has built up with a back three of Viveash, Crosby and Matt Bound, and throw someone new into the defence for the FA Cup first-round tie at the Dr Martens League Premier Division club.

Crosby said: "Losing Adrian is a blow for us.

"It's about time the club pulled their finger out and got it sorted out. He couldn't have done any more really.

"If the club want him seriously, they should get it done. They kept saying that when Sam Stockley goes it will be done. Sam Stockley's been gone a week now.

"I don't think it's the gaffer's fault, I think it's the chairman's. But if he wants this club to go further forward he needs to bring in better players, and Adi is one of those.

"He's played at Reading, who are a first division club, he's shown what qualities he's got and everyone can see what a difference he's made.

"If the club want to go forward, they need to sign better players. If they don't, what signal does that make to the players and the fans?"

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