INCREDIBLY, Michael Appleton is now exactly halfway on the list of long-serving Football League managers.

Following Shaun Derry’s dismissal as Notts County boss on Monday, the Oxford United head coach has been promoted to 36th on the 72-man list.

  • AARON Heap will be presented with the Kevin Durham Memorial Cup before Oxford United’s home game with Carlisle United tomorrow.

The award is for the U’s most promising schoolboy footballer.

The prize is named after the former U’s player, who died in 1991 on the eve of his first season as a professional with Barnet.

  • ANDY Melville, part of the backroom team who helped Oxford United regain their Football League status, is settling into a new role as head of recruitment at Portsmouth.