MATTY Taylor says he has no regrets over not joining Oxford United in 2016 when Michael Appleton was in charge of the club.

During that summer, Taylor met with Appleton to discuss a deal, with the latter believing one was struck.

Instead, Taylor signed a new contract with Bristol Rovers, having bagged 28 goals in 50 appearances to help fire the Pirates to automatic promotion to Sky Bet League One alongside the U’s.

ANALYSIS: Why Oxford United acting early in transfer window bodes well for season

Taylor was high on Appleton’s wish list as a replacement for Kemar Roofe, who left to join Leeds United for a fee reported to be in the region of £3 million.

United were confident they had agreed a deal in principle for Taylor, however negotiations stalled and the move fell through.

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Reflecting on events during the summer of 2016, Taylor highlighted the fact he was able to earn a move to the second tier with Pirates arch-rivals Bristol City at the end of the January transfer window, therefore his decision to stay with Rovers was the right one in hindsight.

Asked whether he had any regrets about not making a return to his hometown side in 2016, Taylor said: “No, not really because I then had an unbelievable year in League One, and then got a move to the Championship.

“It did annoy me at the time because I did meet the club and nothing got agreed.

“Then I shook his [Appleton] hand to say bye and next thing I know, he said I shook on a deal. It baffled me that he said that.

“It was a very close decision but at that moment, it wasn’t right.

“From what happened, it definitely wasn’t right because I got to reach the Championship.

“I was then lucky that Karl [Robinson] picked up the phone and got me on loan, and then I loved it so much, I signed for longer.”

Seven years ago, Appleton was left feeling disappointed by the deal for Taylor not getting over the line, and said at the time: “Without speaking too much out of turn, I did think we had shaken hands on an agreement.

“But I’m being told by his representative that he hasn’t got a desire to play for his hometown club.”

Taylor inevitably then came off the bench to score the winner when Rovers and United met at the Memorial Stadium in August.

After putting the Pirates 2-1 up in the 70th minute, Taylor celebrated by shaking hands with teammate Lee Brown.

The striker would of course go on to rejoin the U’s, initially on loan, in August 2019, going on to score 64 times across four seasons.

He will leave United this month though after the club decided against handing him a new deal.

READ MORE: Matty Taylor denies ‘blow-up doll’ rumour for January exit

Looking to the future, Taylor said: “I’m 33 and I’m not going to play forever. I’m going to let my agent do what he does.

“If it’s a two-year deal or a one-year deal, then you might want the longer deal if that means you have to drop down a league.

“I’ve got to go through them all and see what’s right for me.

“A big thing for me is the ambition of the side, where do I fit into that, and my family first and foremost, and how it would work for them.

“I’ll just go through them all and decide what’s best, then I’ll be in whatever shirt next year trying to do my best, scoring as many goals as I can.”

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About the author

To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/

Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.

Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.

His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.