Charlie Oatway is making plans for life after professional football by branching out into business.

Albion's QPR-mad midfielder has added to his portfolio by setting up a taxi firm based in East Preston, named after the club.

"I do bits and pieces away from the game," Oatway revealed. "I try to potter about in property and I bought a limousine 12 months ago, which is based in Horsham and which we hire out with a driver.

"Now I've gone in halves with a partner in a cab firm. It's a brand new company and I've called it Albions.

"I know all the boys here think about life after football. You must be some sort of idiot if you think you are going to play on for ever, so you have to broaden your horizons."

Back surgery has sidelined the Seagulls' dressing room joker until Christmas, but it's a long way from being a case of "taxi for Oatway."

Albion's midfield enforcer intends to keep on going just like former club captain Paul Rogers, who combines a job in the club's marketing department with playing for Worthing.

Oatway, who began at non-League Yeading before becoming a professional with Cardiff, said: "I don't know how long I have got left. I've just hit 30 and I felt fine before the back injury which is keeping me out. It's a case of doing a Paul Rogers and playing on as long as possible.

"Then, like 'Dodge has, I will have to go and play somewhere else, even if it's at the age of 40 in a Sunday side.

"I would always have to play because it's in me. Some players when they hang their boots up don't want to play again, but I couldn't be like that."

It is particularly frustrating for Oatway not to be able to play against his beloved Rangers on Sunday in the last 16 of the LDV Vans Trophy.

He was given the christian names of several of the Rangers side that won promotion from the old Second Division 30 years ago and was raised in the streets around Loftus Road.

"My family will be there, obviously supporting the other side!" Oatway said. "But I'm sure we can get the right result and carry on through to the final."

The Oatways are a close-knit family and the match also gives Charlie an opportunity to visit his seriously ill father Tony.

"It's an ongoing thing with my dad," Oatway said. "He's not living, he's surviving, and it's a horrible situation.

"I would rather it was over for him because he's got no sense of life but he has family visitors every day, so in that respect he is quite lucky."

The winners of Sunday's clash will be the first team through to the area semi-finals of the knockout competition for second and third division and Conference sides.

A place in the Conference is the target for the new club of departed Albion utility player Shaun Wilkinson, who used to travel into training with Oatway.

Portsmouth-born Wilkinson joined Havant and Waterlooville last week on a free transfer following two previous loan spells there. Wilkinson, 22, has signed a two and a half year contract with the ambitious Dr Martens League outfit.

The reserve team skipper was restricted to 15 League starts in just over five seasons with the Seagulls and made two substitute appearances under current manager Mark McGhee.

Oatway believes it will not be long before Wilkinson, who was also loaned out to Chesterfield last season, is back in the pro ranks.

"I think Shaun needs a fresh start," Oatway said. "This opportunity has come along and it's not a bad one.

"Havant are a good side and hopefully they will get in the Conference.

"If Shaun plays the way he can play I'm sure he won't be there that long before he gets a move back into League football. I hope everything goes well for him."

Wilkinson's transfer could be the signal for further squad tinkering by McGhee.

"There are players here who, although they have not featured, are going to be good enough," McGhee said.

"Others I might assess are not going to be good enough and therefore will be allowed to go. I am still in that process."

The distinct possibility of a trip to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in March for the final of the LDV Vans Trophy is uppermost in McGhee's thoughts at the moment.

If the Seagulls can squeeze past QPR they will certainly be regarded as the competition favourites.

Seven other Second Division sides are left and two of them, Wycombe and Colchester, play each other.

Northampton and Southend, two of the six Third Division teams still in the competition, are in Albion's section while Halifax are flying the flag for the Conference in the north. The rest of the matches in the area quarter-finals take place on Tuesday.