No Oxford Deal For Hand

30th April 2008

Conference club Oxford United have today revealed that they are not going to offer Imps' midfielder Jamie Hand a deal for next season.

Hand is currently under contract at Lincoln City until June 2009 but has been told by Imps' manager Peter Jackson that his future lies away from Sincil Bank. Hand has spent the past two months on loan at Conference National club Oxford United. It had been hoped, even by Hand, that Oxford would offer him a permanent deal during the summer. That though has been dashed as Oxford have undertaken a squad reassessment that has seen them axe several players. They are however, hoping to take a couple of their loan players on permanent deals but Hand was told yesterday that he is not one of them.

Despite Hand being only 24, he has already had eight clubs during his short career. However, only three of these have been permanent clubs.

Hand began his career as a trainee at Watford in 2001, going on to make 61 appearances for the Hornets. During his five years at Watford, he had loan spells at Oxford United, Livingston, Peterborough United, Huddersfield Town and Northampton Town.

Hand finally left Watford for good In May 2006 when he joined Chester City on a free transfer. He scored four goals during 51 appearances for Chester City and was a regular in their first team.

In August 2007, Chester had to lower their wage bill and quickly. This meant that Chester were amiable to Lincoln City's request to take Hand off their hands so to speak! So in August 2007, Hand joined Lincoln City on a free transfer and became former Imps' boss John Schofield's final signing of his reign.

Hand was given a first team role by Schofield, in which he impressed at first. However, since Peter Jackson took over in October 2007, Hand has find himself used mainly in a substitute's role by Jackson.

In a surprise move, Lincoln allowed Hand to rejoin Oxford United on loan in February 2008, where he made 13 appearances.

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