Football
Exclusive: Blackpool and Mansfield in Race to Sign Released Oxford United Skipper Elliott Moore
League One clubs Blackpool and Mansfield are interested in signing former Oxford United skipper Elliott Moore on a free transfer. The experienced centre-back, who played over 200 games for Oxford, was not offered a new contract in the summer. Moore is still searching for a way back to first-team football after a proposed move to Saudi Arabia fell through.
Derby County v Oxford United - Sky Bet League One by Michael Regan | Getty Images
Blackpool have expressed an interest in trying to sign former Oxford United skipper Elliott Moore on a free transfer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
But our sources have also learnt the experienced centre-back is wanted by Mansfield Town, another League One club who are hoping to grab themselves a bargain with no transfer fee.
Moore played over 200 games for the U’s during a distinguished six-year spell at the Kassam Stadium, in which he played a key role in guiding the club to a memorable promotion to the Championship via the play-offs in 2024.
But the 28-year-old was not offered a new contract in the summer and was released at the end of his most recent three-year contract expired.
Moore has not played since 27th August this year when Oxford were hammered 6-0 by Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.
The former Leicester City defender played 243 games in total for the U’s, scoring 12 goals during a consistent stint with the club in which he was a regular starter.
However, his departure earlier this year was a shock for many of the club’s supporters, especially having played such a significant role in how far the club have come in recent years, culminating in winning promotion to the second tier.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
"I arrived as a young defender looking to settle and find a home, little did I know that signing for Oxford would be the start of something special, creating incredible memories along the way,” said Moore following his departure.
"It's been a privilege to wear the badge and the captain's armband, I've strived every day to represent the club and the supporters in the best possible way."
Moore had been on the verge of a reunion with former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham in Saudi Arabia, but a proposed move in September fell through and the player is still searching for a way back to first-team football.
Buckingham took the reigns at Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood earlier this summer and had been in talks with his former right-hand man to make the move.
But Blackpool and Mansfield are now the latest clubs looking to strike a deal for a player has 300 professional games under his belt.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.