Oxford United have told former skipper Joe Burnell and young right back James Clarke they can leave.

Neither player fits into the plans of new manager Chris Wilder, who wants some movement in the transfer market so that he can bring in one or two more players for the season’s final push.

Wilder is believed to be keen to sign Weymouth’s Kevin Sandwith and is understood to be set for talks with him today, but faces competition for his services from a couple of other clubs.

Former Bristol City, Wycombe and Northampton midfielder Burnell, signed last summer by ex-U’s boss Darren Patterson, has a further year to run on his contract, but Wilder has told him he can leave if another club comes in for him.

Clarke, 19, has also been told he can talk to other clubs and will not be offered a new deal in the summer.

Burnell, 28, has made 24 appearances this season, scoring just once, when he put the U’s in front before they conceded two late goals in the 2-1 defeat at Lewes.

Clarke, who began the season disastrously by getting sent off at Barrow on the opening day, has had 16 starts this season, and two substitute appearances.

The Aylesbury-based defender was United’s young player of the year in 2006-7. He signed professional forms with United 15 months ago and was highly thought of, but he hasn’t progressed this season as much as United had hoped.

With Damian Batt arriving from Grays Athletic and looking very assured, and Adam Chapman also able to fit in at right back, Clarke is some way down the pecking order.

Just over a month ago, he was involved in a nasty car crash on the A34 near Weston-on-the-Green and was taken to hospital after being cut free from his car, but he escaped with just a few bruises.

Wilder said: “It’s hard in some ways because they are l From Back Page both good pros who have never been a moment’s trouble and who have worked very hard in training.

“However, the simple truth is that I have other ideas and other plans and sadly neither James nor Joe really fit into those.

“We have circulated their names and details to clubs and will help them try and find new clubs.”

Wilder, who was out watching a game, said last night that one club had already made an inquiry about Clarke.

“It’s a club from a lower division,” he said. “We’ll keep the boy informed, of course, and see what happens.”

Burnell and Clarke, who were both on the bench for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Mansfield, are likely to feature for an Oxford United reserve side in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final against Old Woodstock Town at Abingdon United tonight.

So too are Ben Hinchliffe, Eddie Hutchinson and Matt Day.