Tough decision to leave - Anaclet

Oxford-raised Anaclet spent two years at the Kassam Stadium

Right-back Eddie Anaclet has admitted it was a "hard decision" to leave Oxford United for Stevenage Borough.

The U's will be owed compensation for the out-of-contract 22-year-old, who had been offered a new Oxford deal.

He told BBC Oxford: "It was a hard decision, but I'm going to stick by it. I don't know the reception I'll get in Oxford, but a move should benefit me.

"It was difficult for everyone involved because injuries have hampered my season massively."

U's manager Darren Patterson said: "Eddie is a good lad and we'd have liked him to stay.

Jim Smith signed me so that told you what he thought of me, and Patto picked me for every game Eddie Anaclet

"At the same time we are talking to new players about joining us and having a definite decision so early from Eddie helps us firm up those plans.

"We made him an offer but he wants to try his luck somewhere else. He feels he needs a new challenge so it looks as though he'll be moving on. We wish him well and hope it works out for him."

Anaclet links up with Boro boss Graham Westley, a long-time admirer, but he said that had no bearing on his decision.

"It was the same with my managers at Oxford. Jim Smith signed me so that told you what he thought of me, and Patto [Darren Patterson] picked me for every game.

"It's good to have the backing of your managers, but I have only now really heard what Graham Westley has been saying about me."

Tanzanian-born Anaclet, who has played in defence and on the wing, was on schoolboy forms with Oxford, but had a spell on Southampton's books. He returned to the Kassam Stadium in 2006 and made more than 70 first-team appearances.