OXFORD United goalkeeper Phil Whitehead is set to sign a new two-year contract.

The 28-year-old keeper was put on the transfer list last October, along with Nigel Jemson, after the pair turned down new contracts.

Jemson was later sold to Bury for £100,000 but Whitehead's future remained uncertain - until today.

Malcolm Shotton, United's manager, said: "Phil is about to sign a new contract.

"He wanted to know which way the club was going but since I've been here, he's seen the strides we've made and is happy to stay.

"Quite honestly, I tore his old contract up and told him he had to earn a new one. He's done that."

Whitehead had nothing to do last night as the U's and Crewe played out a dull 0-0 stalemate at the Manor. The visitors failed to produce a shot on target.

Shotton was disappointed with the outcome. "The first half was poor and although we were better in the second, it's disappointing not to get all three points. They handled Kevin Francis well but we've got to bounce off other people around him and need to open up our ideas a bit," he said.

"The players know I'm not too happy about it but on the positive side, we've not been beaten and it's another clean sheet."

Skipper Mike Ford, who had to suffer and watch from the sidelines after failing a fitness test, said: "Crewe actually played Joey very well and dealt with Kevin as well as anyone.

"But maybe 0-0 is not such a bad result for us."

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