United's boss rules out a move for Parker

It's been rumoured that 32-year-old Parker would like a move to Oxford United when he feels his Premiership days are coming to a close and he is just the kind of quality passer United crave.

However, Shotton told fans at the forum at the Supporters Club on Thursday night: "At this moment in time we've got to get the best out of the players we've got here.

"We need someone with Garry Parker's passing ability but with younger legs, and he'd be on astronomical wages which we almost certainly couldn't afford."

Director Maurice Evans, who confirmed that there was a sell-on clause in Darren Purse's transfer contract to Birmingham, described the wages that most Premier League players are on as "crazy".

"Players are merceneries. They will go for the biggest bung," he said. "A player like Garry wouldn't drop to £500 a week or whatever at Oxford when he's getting £3,000 a week or whatever in the Premier."

Explaining his tactical thinking with new signing Kevin Francis, Shotton said: "Signing Kevin has obviously given us a great target man to hit but I want us to play football and use the wide men we've got.

"Defenders are there to defend but I like to see us get it out wide and if the ball's there to be crossed, with someone like Kevin in the middle, I expect it to be crossed. "It's the same if a chance is there to shoot, I expect us to shoot."

Shotton told fans that the young players who have been given a run in the side recently, such as Jamie Cook, Rob Folland and Simon Weatherstone, will get their chance again. Weatherstone was expected to be on the bench in the Division 1 game at Bradford today.

United's new boss also believed loan signings O'Neill Donaldson and Steve Davis would "come here like a shot" if the club decide to make them the offer of a permanent signing.

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