Chris Hargreaves is weighing up his options after fulfilling his “mission” to get Oxford United back into the Football League.

The midfielder, who was released last week by United, felt the pain more than most when the U’s were relegated from the League in 2006.

He was skipper at the time – and then was part of the team who suffered play-off heartache against Exeter the following year.

The 38-year-old was thrilled to have been able to return and play a part in helping the club achieve their goal after four seasons in the Conference.

“It’s been a long process and a mission of mine, having experienced relegation, to get Oxford back into the Football League,” he said.

“Now that it’s happened, I can draw a line under it.”

An inspirational character, who wears his heart on his sleeve, ‘Greavsie’ was used for his motivational powers when it was decided he was surplus to requirements among the 16-man squad for Wembley, and helped with coaching routines and in “geeing up” the players at every opportunity.

He said: “I’ve coached at Exeter in their youth system for the last two years and they want me to carry on helping in their progression.

“I’ve helped in a motivational role and I’m pleased with where they stand as a result.

“It’s been the same at Oxford. I hope that I’ve been able to help them.”

He admitted the Exeter position is just one of many he now has to consider.

“I’ve had a few offers of management roles – two chairmen of Blue Square North clubs wanting me to be manager, a Conference club asking me to be player-manager, and a couple of clubs have spoken to me about playing, one in the League and one in the Conference.

“I had four messages from four different people in one day, including Dean Holdsworth at Newport County, saying ‘do I want to play?’ “And I’ve got my A licence (coaching badge) coming up in June.

“I’ve also got some TV work I do here down in Devon, so there’s a lot of thinking to do.”

The former Grimsby, Hull, West Brom, Hereford, Plymouth, Northampton, Brentford and Torquay grafter believes he can carry on playing, despite his advancing years.

“I played 40 games last season, albeit not that many at Oxford in the end, and 60 the year before and I’m pretty fit,” he said.

“What I did at Oxford, and the travelling up from south Devon, was a big test on the body, but I’m really glad I did it.

“I know that the official line was that I was released, but there was no real discussion about staying, it wasn’t on the agenda.

“There was not even discussion on whether I wanted to stay . . . it was just a 20-game blast to try to get the club promoted.

“And I am so pleased I chose to do that. The easier thing would have been to sit here, under contract at Torquay, where I’m very popular.

“But I knew how much it meant to so many people at Oxford to get back in the League and I wanted to try and help. I’m just so pleased it’s been achieved.”