JAMES CONSTABLE, who resisted overtures from Paolo Di Canio to switch to Swindon Town the season before last, has moved to Eastleigh of the Conference Premier after six years with League Two side Oxford United.

Constable, the best player thusfar to emerge from the Cirencester Town youth system, was just one goal away from equalling the all-time goal-scoring record at Oxford.

He has signed a two-year deal with ambitious Hampshire club Eastleigh after rejecting a new contract with the U’s.

Constable, 29, known to the fans as ‘Beano’ said: “I have loved every minute at Oxford United and I have said many times that I would have liked to have ended my career there.

“But over the course of the last few weeks it has become apparent that wasn’t going to be possible, so I move on.”

The striker was offered a new deal after his contract expired at the end of the season, but on reduced wages.

Constable scored 26 goals in each of his first two seasons at Oxford including one at Wembley which secured the club’s return to the Football League.

His four seasons in League Two have yielded a further 54 goals, but his departure means he is left agonisingly one behind Graham Atkinson in the all-time United scoring charts – Atkinson hit 107 and Constable 106.