OXFORD United have turned down an audacious approach from neighbours Wycombe Wanderers for Malcolm Shotton to be their new manager.

The approach came last week and Shotton was informed of it by the club's directors.

And last night he told me: "I'm more than happy doing the job I'm doing here at Oxford.

"I'm totally committed to the club and I've got two years to run on my contract after this season has finished."

Two or three times this season, Shotton has been on the verge of quitting because he has been unable to manage as he would like, with no money to spend and having to sell players.

A manager who wears his heart on his sleeve, Shotton almost went after a 2-0 defeat at Watford last November, and then threw his jacket into the crowd as a farewell gesture after the 7-1 home defeat by Birmingham in December, before again being talked out of quitting. At the end of January, Shotton was despondent at the thought of having to sell leading scorer Dean Windass, having already lost his goalkeeper Phil Whitehead and England Under 21 left back Simon Marsh.

Wycombe got to hear about his unhappiness and made a formal approach to Oxford for him to take over from Neil Smillie. Terry Evans has been caretaker boss since Smillie got the sack.

But Keith Cox's departure and the prospect of brighter times ahead with Firoz Kassam looking to put money in to take over the club, have perked Shotton up.

And, while he admits to being flattered that other clubs are chasing him - Sheffield Wednesday sounded out the possibility of him as a successor to Ron Atkinson - he has now pledged himself to Oxford.

With his wife Treda, he has been looking at schools in the Oxford area for their son Matthew, who takes his GCSEs in June, so that he can complete his education.

Shotton added: "It is flattering to be wanted by other clubs. People are now noticing what we are doing here under difficult circumstances and that is pleasing."

Story date: Friday 05 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.