Darren Patterson admits there has been a sea change in Oxford United's transfer policy, even if the club haven't come out and stated it as such.

After trying, unsuccessfully last season, to win promotion with a team built on the foundations of players who had dropped down from the Football League, there is a trend towards bringing in players who have proved themselves in the Conference.

Last week's capture of Michael Blackwood meant the U's boss had signed five players in January.

Three have come from rival Blue Square Premier clubs - Blackwood and Justin Richards from Kidderminster and Craig McAllister from Grays - while the other two, Adam Murray from Macclesfield and Michael Howard from Morecambe, had spent most of their time in recent years in the Conference.

Patterson said: "They have all played a lot at this level and successfully too.

"I think it's important that they know how to handle this league. It's not an actual policy change as such, but it's something we are placing greater importance on.

"That's not to say there will not be players that we sign from higher levels."

United's manager has also gone for familiarity, with Richards and McAllister knowing each other well from their time at Woking, and Richards and Blackwood at Kidderminster.

"I think it helps," he said. "Looking at this level, we're trying to bring in anyone who can help us put on some good performances and get points on the board.

"If they've played together and know each other, that has to help."

Those transfer-listed players who did not leave Oxford during the January window will stay on the 'available' list. They include Eddie Hutchinson, Carl Pettefer and Matt Day.

"We've still got another window with the loan transfer window, which opens this Thursday," Patterson added.