Simon Clist and Jack Midson will not be offered new contracts by Oxford United in the summer.

Manager Chris Wilder says he is determined to improve the quality in key areas of United’s team – and that is behind his decision to make four players available for transfer.

Striker Midson, 27, is joining Barnet on loan until the end of the season.

The former Histon forward, who has already spent two months on loan at Southend this season, is out of contract in the summer.

Midfielder Clist, 29, is also available for loan.

Making them free to go out on loan now may help to get them fixed up with a club, Wilder says.

In addition, Ben Purkiss and Steve Kinniburgh are available for emergency loan and permanent transfers at the end of the season.

The two full backs, who have generally been second choice this season behind Damian Batt and Anthony Tonkin, have a further year left on their contracts and will remain at Oxford if no club comes in for them.

Midson joins fellow U’s player Sam Deering at relegation-threatened Barnet, and like Deering, there is a clause in the agreement that he cannot play for the Bees against Oxford United in the npower League Two match at Underhill on Easter Monday.

Explaining the reasons behind his decision to make the quartet available, Wilder said: “I assess our players all the time, and I just feel we need to up our quality in places.

“Jack and Simon have both played a part in getting us to where we are.

“Clisty was one of my first signings and has done well for us. But I’m looking to make a change in that position.

“I want to help the lads out in that respect as well. No doubt Simon and Jack will both get clubs in the summer, and this maybe helps to give them a head start instead of being in that pot of 800 at the end of the season.

“I’ve had no problems with any of the lads. And with the two players under contract, it’s pretty straightforward really. Both want to play football, but if we want to kick on, I need to bring in a bit more experience and quality.”

Wilder is on the verge of signing another player on loan – a forward.

Last week’s 2-1 home defeat by Stevenage seemed to cement some opinions he had on players, but he says none of these decisions is impulsive.

“I’m always looking at ways to improve us. It isn’t a knee-jerk reaction,” he added.