Oxford not expecting Constable loan to Bournemouth
Last updated on .From the section Football
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas says he is not expecting striker James Constable to join Bournemouth on loan.
The 26-year-old turned down a move to the League One side on deadline day and Cherries boss Lee Bradbury expressed interest in a possible loan deal.
But Thomas told the club website: "The talk of him going out on loan is way off the mark - unless something unbelievable came in.
"He certainly won't be going out on loan to Bournemouth any time soon."
"It's very much matter closed and we move on to the next challenge.
"It's good that our players are attracting attention - that's a compliment. The deal wasn't acceptable to James. I think we could have got to an agreement (with Bournemouth), because they offered a lot of money.
"He wasn't being greedy - at all. I don't think he really wanted to go."
Bradbury had told BBC Radio Solent: "I've not spoken to him since deadline day, it's something that could happen.
"I obviously like the player and we'll see if we can rekindle that when the window opens again."
Constable, who is United's top-scorer this season, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation with Luton Town, Swindon and Yeovil all linked with a move for the ex-Kidderminster man.
And Bradbury added that he was looking to bring in further players, saying: "I've known for the last three or four weeks we need to get a player on board.
"We're working hard on that. I've spoken to the board and the chairman and he is supporting me on that."
Bournemouth failed to win again on Saturday, with a 3-1 defeat against Notts County ensuring a fourth successive League One loss for the South Coast side, but the Cherries boss refused to blame off-pitch problems.
"It's been a tough week and results haven't been going our way. Things have been going on off the pitch but that doesn't affect us," he said.
"We're shipping goals at the moment and we need to change that."
The Cherries, who lie 21st in League One after losing five of their first six league games, next face winless Chesterfield on 10 September.
