Oxford United were celebrating a £650,000-plus windfall last night after midfielder Dean Whitehead moved from Sunderland to Stoke.

And U's chairman Kelvin Thomas said the money would help to secure the short-term future of the club.

Whitehead, 27, joined the Potters on a four-year contract for £3m, which could rise to £5m.

With Oxford due to receive 25 per cent of the fee, minus the £325,000 they sold him for, due to the sell-on clause they had with Sunderland, it should bring them £668,750.

That could rise further, depending on the terms of Whitehead's transfer to the Britannia Stadium following his five-year stint with the Black Cats.

Thomas admitted the cash boost was a "godsend" but said it wouldn't go straight into signing more players.

Instead, it has been earmarked to help guarantee the club's immediate future, which includes rent payments for the stadium, and paying off debts.

"It will go into our cash-flow," he said. "As a club, our level of debt is high, too high.

"This is a godsend to us, it's true, but it will be used sensibly."

The chairman added: "In our discussions with Chris (Wilder), he knows this wasn't ever earmarked for transfers now, and in any case he's very happy with the squad we've got.

"Yes, it's possible some may be set aside to use in the January transfer window, should we need it.

"But let's not forget we're a club in debt. No-one should get carried away that it's all just going into a transfer kitty."

Privately, United expect to receive far less than the £668,000 as a first payment. It may be half, or less.

Thomas said: "It won't be £3m as an initial transfer sum, it will be spready payments, I would imagine. We'll get details of the deal next week and see where it leaves us.

"The 'rising to £5m' could depend on many things – appearances, Stoke staying up, or ‘Deano’ playing in the World Cup final.