JAMIE Lambert says he is "disappointed and upset" at the contract he was offered by Oxford United, and has urged the Division 2 club to make him a better offer.

The skilful former Reading star, who has become a big hit with the fans, has now left the Manor Ground after turning down the terms offered by United last Thursday.

And he said: "I was made an offer which I can only describe as very disappointing.

"I consider myself to be a seasoned pro, this is my eighth season as a professional and I have spent a lot of my professional career in the first division.

"I wasn't asking for first division wages, just for an average second division wage, but I was offered a pittance. What I was offered was the same as I was getting at Reading when I was 18, and it's what I could get playing non-League football.

"I don't understand it," he said. "From talking to people at the club, the general policy is that if you turn up and play and impress, they keep you on for a week or two. If you don't, they let you go.

"They kept me for six weeks, I felt I did pretty well, especially when I went up front. I've scored goals and I feel I've played a very big part in this run of 11 games without defeat.

"I felt I turned around the game against Morecambe which kept them in the FA Cup, so that has earned the club a lot of money. I thought I deserved to be made a decent offer."

Lambert, who was offered only a six-month contract, said: "I don't want the fans at Oxford, or anywhere else for that matter, thinking of me as money-grabbing. I've asked for very, very little.

"I find it hard to understand what their thinking is. The squad's very small and if they get an injury to Joey Beauchamp, I'm not sure where they're going to get any creativity from."

Jamie's adviser in his contract dealings is his father Arnold, who is a solicitor.

And he says he hopes talks can be resurrected with United.

"Jamie would love to play for Oxford United and we haven't closed the door," he said. "He got on really well with Malcolm Shotton and Mickey Lewis, and both wanted to sign him.

"He went there on a non-contract basis, which was virtually like a trial, he has been there something like 14 weeks and in that time made ten starts and scored two goals and he, and I feel he has earned his right to be given a contract.

"The club offered him one but we were unable to agree the terms. But we haven't closed the door completely."

Story date: Tuesday 14 December

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