Oxford United have reacted to Matt Green's comment that his move to Torquay was motivated by money by insisting they were prepared to match anything the Plainmoor club offered.

And manager Darren Patterson, very disappointed at the way he feels Green has let him and others at Oxford down, believes the whole saga will now "galvanise" everyone involved with the U's.

The 21-year-old striker, who scored ten goals while on loan at Oxford from Championship side Cardiff last season, admitted over the weekend that his move to Plainmoor was motivated by money.

"I'm going to be financially better off at Torquay," he said.

"I don't want anyone to feel hard done by. The fans at Oxford were the best I've played for in my career."

Patterson is frustrated at expending so much time and energy on trying to capture Green, who has signed a two-year deal with Torquay, but stresses he has other exciting targets lined up.

"I had a horrible feeling from the very start about this one," he conceded.

"At first Matt was so intent on playing in the League and that was why he went and spoke to Barnet.

"Then he went on holiday and when he came back, although we had agreed on a deal, he changed the goalposts, both financially and with the length of contract.

"But once again we reached a verbal agreement with him and his agent. Financially it was a good deal."

Patterson thought he had got his man on Friday, but then heard of Torquay's interest.

"We agreed to meet whatever they offered," he said. "We bent over backwards for him . . . first he wanted a two-year deal then he changed to a one-year, and we were prepared to agree to whatever he wanted.

"For the last three weeks he had assured me he was going to sign for us, so I feel very disappointed at what he's done."

Green believes the south Devon club are heading in the right direction, despite their painful play-off exit at the hands of local rivals Exeter, who went on to clinch promotion in the final at Wembley, and that too played a part in his thinking.

"This is a lovely area and I have played here with Oxford and saw that the club are really going places," he said.

"Paul Buckle is a young manager and is as ambitious as I am. I have been very impressed with what I have seen at the club."

And Buckle believes the Welsh striker represents a great investment for the Gulls.

"Matt will bring us goals, he is young, but has already played in the Championship and can more than hold his own at this level," he said.

"He is quick and strong and impressed me greatly when he played against us last season."

Patterson added: "I don't think we could have done any more to get him. Maybe this will galvanise us.

"I've already had phone calls from four of our players who he had told he would be coming here and they're not impressed."