Adam Murray has left Oxford United by mutual consent after finding he could not commit himself to living locally.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who had been United’s captain for the past two seasons, was told by the U’s that he couldn’t carry on commuting from Derby.

Last summer he moved his family down to within an hour of the club, but they were unable to settle in the area, and he has since moved back to Derby.

United felt that the excessive amount of driving he was doing contributed to his back injury and related loss of form at times last season.

So when he was unable to conform with the club’s policy that players on long-term contracts should live within an hour or so of the training ground, the wheels were put in motion for him to leave by mutual consent.

He had two years remaining on his contract, but no-one is sure whether he will fully recover from the minor back surgery he underwent at the start of the summer.

The former Derby, Mansfield, Kidderminster, Notts County, Burton, Carlisle, Torquay and Macclesfield player has been at the FA’s National Rehabilitation Centre at Lilleshall.

A statement issued by United yesterday said: “Over the last few years the club has worked hard to change the fact that players travel so much, so it was decided it would be in everyone’s interests that he not commute down.”

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have had to come to this decision.

“Adam is a good player and did really well for us at the beginning of last season and in previous seasons.

“Unfortunately, he wasn’t involved in the final promotion push due to injury, but we do feel that our decision to have players live close has been justified.

“Adam has made a decision to put his family first, which as a family-orientated club we fully understand .”

Murray, who had played in the Premiership for Derby County when he began his career, joined Oxford in January 2008 from Macclesfield and scored 11 goals in 87 league games.

He was for a long time the team’s playmaker.

United feel, with the signings boss Chris Wilder has made in the summer, that they have the players to replace what Murray brought to the team with his passing ability and quality.