OXFORD United are looking to offload Tony McMahon this summer.

The full back still has 12 months left on the contract he signed last June, but he was loaned out to Scunthorpe United in January.

Head coach Karl Robinson believes a move to a club closer to the 33-year-old’s family home in the north east would suit all parties.

However, Scunthorpe’s relegation to Sky Bet League Two may mean alternative suitors need to be found.

Robinson said: “We think it’s going to be best for him to stay up north.

“I think it’s what he prefers for his family as well.

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“Obviously with Scunthorpe going down it’s going to make it an awful lot more difficult to do that.

“You’d imagine their wage bill would decrease.

“We’ll have those conversations over the next few weeks.

“But Tony will have a decision to make in the summer. I don’t foresee him coming here and playing here.”

McMahon was brought in to add experience to the squad, but the move was complicated before it was finalised.

It was delayed by the death of his father earlier in the summer, while the distance from his young family was also a strain having spent his entire career in the north.

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McMahon started just ten league games for the U’s, before losing his place to Jamie Hanson in November.

Robinson said: “It just didn’t work.

“You have to make sure you deal with it immediately, rather than making what could have been a bad signing and make it into a good signing.

“I don’t think that would have worked, so we admitted the mistakes we made, but no-one could have foreseen what occurred with Tony’s private life.”

A loan move to Glanford Park followed, where he was reunited with former Bradford City boss Stuart McCall.

But after making a strong start, injuries hampered the spell and McCall was sacked as the Iron’s form slumped.

They were relegated on the final day of the season, with former Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst taking over the reins yesterday.

At this stage it is unclear how McMahon’s exit will come about.

Ideally, United want to find a club to sign the defender and avoid the need to pay a settlement, which would eat into their budget for next season.

But Robinson is optimistic of reaching a positive outcome.

He said: “We’ll try to get it right for all parties.

“You sign a contract and you adhere to that, but at the end of the day it’s got to be right for everyone’s welfare.

“Tony’s a top man. It’s not something I’m overly worried about.”