JOEY Beauchamp's name was not high in the popularity stakes among Oxford United staff following the collapse of his move to Southampton.

Mystery surrounds the exact reasons for Saints pulling the plug on the deal, but it appears that it was not merely the slightly dodgy medical reports.

Sources at The Dell and at the Manor have revealed that Southampton manager Dave Jones was less than enamoured with Beauchamp asking - having agreed personal terms - for the weekend to consider the move.

If the deal was to go ahead, they wanted him at training yesterday morning to prepare for the Premiership game against Derby today. But apparently, he wanted to talk the move over with his girlfriend.

Southampton issued a statement that the deal had fallen through on medical grounds. "There were too many complications, so we had to pull the plug on it," said Jones.

United's official statement read: "The deal that was to see United winger Joey Beauchamp join Premier League club Southampton has fallen through. While Joey was still thinking over the move, Southampton considered the advice of their medical officers and decided not to proceed with the transfer."

I understand Saints were prepared to take a risk with Beauchamp's fitness, even though they were understandably wary after Barry Venison, Scott Marshall and David Hughes all suffered back problems over the past year.

But they were not prepared to be messed about.

One United official said: "I think they were surprised by his lack of enthusiasm for this chance to play in the Premiership."

United manager Malcolm Shotton, criticised by fans for publicly airing his annoyance at Beauchamp's reluctance to move, would not comment on this latest collapse.

He said Beauchamp would be reporting for training today and, if he showed the necessary appetite to play at Norwich tomorrow, would be included in a likely 15-man squad.

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