Peter Fear's future with Oxford United could be over after chairman Firoz Kassam's meeting with the players today.

Exactly which players will be offered new contracts is expected to become clearer following Kassam's discussions with his staff at the Manor.

And while Rob Folland is one who may well get a late reprieve, following David Kemp's departure and his remarkable performance up front for the U's in their final game at Notts County last Saturday, I believe Fear will be released, mainly because he is on very high wages.

A former England Under 21 international, he joined United on a free transfer from Wimbledon two years ago, one of four "big signings" made in the summer of 1999 by then manager Malcolm Shotton.

Two of the other three, Andre Arendse and Derek Lilley, have already left, and the third, Steve Anthrobus, has already been told he will not be retained.

Kassam will have to make decisions on others who are out of contract, such as Matt Murphy, Lee Jarman and Jon Shepheard.

During Joe Kinnear's time at Oxford, he stressed the importance of a player like Murphy to the team, and it would be a surprise if a player who made 39 appearances this season was not offered a new deal.

But Jarman and Shepheard have been used only fleetingly, in both cases partly because of injuries.

Neither Anthrobus nor Fear were involved in the final game at Notts County.