HEREFORD won’t receive any compensation from Exeter City for defender Jimmy Oates as he wasn’t under contract at Edgar Street.

“This where we have a bit of a loophole as Jimmy is over 24 and was offered a new contract for this season,” said Hereford manager Pete Beadle.

“Being over 24 he doesn’t have to sign it and can leave as and when he wants because he hasn’t signed it.

“With Exeter coming in before pre-season then obviously the trial was set up before he signed his contract and when he knew the trial was on there was no way he was going to sign the contract.

“You can’t blame him for that. Had he been on a contract or had we signed him last season and done a two year contract then we would have been entitled to compensation but hindsight is a wonderful thing in all walks of life.”