The axe fell yesterday on two of Oxford United's biggest wage-earners when the third division club terminated the contracts of Robert Quinn and Richard Knight.

Neither midfielder Quinn, who arrived with Andy Scott from Brentford in a £150,000 package 15 months ago, nor ex-Derby goalkeeper Knight, the U's player of the year in the 2000-2001 campaign, had featured much last season.

Quinn and Knight have effectively been made redundant, although the club have stopped short of saying that they have been "paid up". Both players had one more year to run on their contracts and their departures will save United a considerable amount of money.

"This will send shock waves through to the others," said boss Ian Atkins. "We asked who was desperate to stay, and put offers to people that they could go if they want to.

"Once you lose your desire in football, that's it, it can be very hard to get it back.

"These two have decided to look elsewhere."

Knight is by no means certain of joining Colchester, the second division club where he spent a month on loan at the end of last season.