Oxford United defender Luke Foster says he can't wait for the season to start after signing a one-year deal with the U's.

He joins Chris Willmott and Yemi Odubade, who have penned two-year deals, Matt Day who has signed a year-long contract extension, and Barry Quinn who has signed for another 12 months.

Foster, 21, put in some outstanding displays at the back after joining Oxford in March from Stalybridge, before suffering a double leg fracture on the last day of the regular season at York.

It meant the Yorkshireman missed the play-off semi-finals against Exeter, but he is now fully recovered and is determined to be part of what he hopes will be a promotion-winning side.

"I will be ready for the start the season" said Foster.

"It took between seven and eight weeks for the leg to heal and I have been exercising trying to build up the muscle.

"I'll be joining the lads in full training when we come back next Tuesday. I'm raring to go.

"There is no doubt in my mind that I wanted to sign for Oxford. I thought that when I played here last season. Being part of the squad last season, I have full belief in the rest of the lads.

"I honestly believe we can do it. We don't want to go through the play-offs again, we want to go up automatically."

"It was a massive blow to miss out on the play-offs. The worst bit was watching the game at Oxford - seeing the lads and thinking I would have been a part of that.

"I'm not going to worry about the other teams we play - we want to make teams frightened to come here.

"I can't put my finger on why we didn't go up last year - I think we were a bit unlucky. Hopefully we don't have to go through all that again."

Foster's new deal means he won't have to face the long trips to and from his south Yorksire base.

"It's a three to four hour drive to here from Sheffield and at first I didn't feel it, but it was starting to takes its toll.

"Being in the area means I can relax better after training."

United chairman Nick Merry was delighted Foster agreed to sign on the dotted line.

"I think he is a great asset. When he came here last season he was a bit of an unknown quantity.

"But he did extremely well for us. He had a bad injury, but came through it well.

"He's very versatile. He was excellent wherever he played."

Merry said he was hopeful that another defender Mickey Corcoran, who was on loan last season from Cardiff City would sign after being released by the Championship side.

Clubs are urging Setanta to reveal how they will distribute the £2.8m they have promised to Blue Square Premier outfits.

Billy McEwan, boss of Oxford United's promotion rivals York City, has called on the Irish broadcaster to state how the deal breaks down.

Setanta signed a five-year agreement to televise matches last August when this figure was mooted.

But no further details have been given - to the consternation of club chairmen, including Merry, at the Conference annual meeting earlier this month.

With 79 league and Setanta Shield matches due to be screened next season, everyone is eager to know the figures.

Oxford United general manager Mick Brown, a newly-elected director of the Conference, says he expects to learn more details at a board meeting early next month.

Meanwhile, Setanta are planning to fit managers with microphones during games and also screen pre-match team talks from the dressing room.

They are also hoping to hold interviews with players immediately after their substitutions as part of matchday coverage.

The Blue Square Premier fixtures for the 2007-8 season will be released next Tuesday.