Oxford United can confirm that defender Joe Skarz has left the club by mutual consent.
The 27-year-old made just over 100 appearances for the U’s after joining from Rotherham United in January 2015. A fixture in the side at left-back throughout the 2015/16 promotion winning season, Joe leaves for pastures new with Head Coach Michael Appleton saying:
“I can’t speak highly enough of Joe. He is the ultimate professional and has been a pleasure to work with. However, you always look to evolve and move forward and at this stage in his career Joe deserves first team football and we can’t promise that for him here next season.
“I am sure he will have plenty of clubs talking to him and wherever he goes we wish him the very best of luck.”
Joe told us:
“I have loved my time at Oxford. There are some fantastic people around the club and there are people I have played with who I know will be friends for life.
“If it wasn’t for the Manager I wouldn’t have enjoyed the last two and a half years as much as I have. Our relationship has always been good and we had an honest chat just before Wembley in which we agreed on the future. To get promoted and get the club to Wembley twice in my time here is something I look back on very proudly.
“Thank you to everyone involved at the club and to the fans who have been brilliant.”