EXPERIENCE of Sky Bet League One will be high on Karl Robinson’s list for transfer targets as the Oxford United boss looks to avoid repeating the mistakes made last summer.

The side still need one more point from the final two games to be certain of their third tier status for next season.

But following favourable midweek results involving their rivals at the bottom, United’s relegation odds have drifted out to 200/1 with one bookmaker.

With the future all-but confirmed, Robinson has been busy drawing up a list of players he is looking to recruit for next season.

And it is clear he will be taking a very different approach from predecessor Pep Clotet, whose signings last summer included half-a-dozen overseas players with no background in League One.

Five were new to England altogether, with only Ricardinho becoming a regular starter.

He said: “I’m looking for players who have been promoted and know what it takes at this level.

“I think maybe that was the problem in the summer – we recruited players who had never played in League One and they don’t know how hard it is.

“People disrespect this level – it’s as hard as it gets.

“We play more games in League One and League Two than anywhere in Europe with all the cups.”

The division has taken homegrown players on loan at United by surprise as well.

Manchester City pair Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Ashley Smith-Brown joined in January but have slipped down the pecking order since Robinson arrived.

It will not put the former MK Dons and Charlton Athletic boss off looking this summer at the loan market, but he has a very specific requirements, which have paid off in the past.

“The loans have to be better than you can afford,” he said.

“We have a benchmark for wages and these players that you want to bring in have to be ones you can’t afford full-time.

“That should theoretically mean they’re the best players.

“I have had Stephy Mavididi, Patrick Bamford, Benik Afobe and Samir Carruthers, who is somebody I’d love to have here in the summer.”

There are two deals he is already close to agreeing and is keen to strike a deal which will see them arrive for the beginning of pre-season.

He said: “What I’ve said to the owners is sometimes why not just agree a fee and pay their wages from July 1, rather than waiting until August?

“Let’s go and hunt them down now, let’s get them in a headlock, get them in a corner and don’t let them out until they sign, if you can still do that.”