Oxford City assistant manager Andy Lyne is understood to have turned down the chance to take over the hot-seat at Abingdon Town, writes RUSSELL SMITH.

The Ryman League Division 3 club made Lyne their No 1 choice after Bob Rayner quit, but the former Witney Town boss has decided to stay at Court Place Farm.

When it was put to Town chairman Phil Evans that they had offered Lyne the job, he said: "I can not confirm that, but whoever it was he is not joining us.

"We are disappointed because obviously the person we were talking to, we considered to be the ideal candidate for the position."

Lyne declined to comment.

Meanwhile, caretaker boss Jon Blencowe has admitted he may have a rethink about the manager's job if the club don't come up with a successor soon.

Blencowe all but ruled himself out of the running for the vacancy originally, but having led Town to two wins out of two, he is having second thoughts. "The response and attitude from the players since I have been running it has been first class," he said.

"I may rethink if it continues the way it is and the club don't appoint anyone in the near future."

He will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins when Abingdon take on Arlesey Town at Culham Road tomorrow.

Centre back Martin Shepherd and midfielder Darren Watts are unavailable, but Scott Hannah and Ben Border return.

Striker Tate Hulbert has been released by Oxford City for disciplinary reasons.

The former Witney Town forward, who was left on the bench for the FA Cup replay against Farnborough after playing Sunday League football, failed to turn up for Tuesday's reserve team game.

Also on the move from Court Place Farm is midfielder Arron Patton following his month's loan from Slough Town. However, City have extended Slough centre back Adrian Brown's loan for another month and he is included in the squad for tomorrow's trip to bottom club Leatherhead in Division 1.

Defender Andy Smith, midfielder Simon Abercrombie and striker Danny Wise also return after being sidelined through injury, but Jemaine Ferreira (ankle) is out.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alan Foster, who has been attracting interest from Swindon Town and QPR, has won the Division 1 Umbro Safe Hands Award for August/Sept- ember after conceding just seven goals in City's first eight league games.

Defender Greg Williams will be missing again as leaders Thame United bid to make it ten straight wins in Division 1 when they entertain Yeading in a rearranged fixture.

Williams was a late withdrawal from Thame's 5-1 win at Northwood on Tuesday after breaking a finger and severing the top of it in an accident at work.