Ward Admits O’Toole Could Leave

Manager John Ward has today admitted that midfield man John Joe O’Toole may leave in the summer after some eye catching performances.

O’Toole scored his 14th goal of the season on Friday night in the 2-0 win over Burton and Ward admits to TIB that O’Toole may leave this summer. ‘Wherever I go people are always saying to me that John-Joe is a good player, so the chances are that something may happen (in the summer).

‘You have to a respect a player for having ambition, but what is important is that we have got him here now and until the end of the season.

‘I’ve worked with John-Joe for four years and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that he can play at a higher level. I know what he is capable of and that is the sort of form we are seeing from him now. He hasn’t been able to produce that sort of form consistently over the last four-and-a-half years, but the platform to rekindle that was what we offered him when he came here.

‘We brought him here last season when nobody else wanted him and, in a sense, his last chance was here with us. He is here every day and he works and trains hard and if he keeps doing that then maybe he will get what he wants at the end of the season.

‘That remains to be seen, but there has never been any secret between me and him over what he wants to achieve. If it doesn’t happen for him at the end of the season then there is the chance for him to stay here and to keep working at it.’

O’Toole signed a three year deal in the summer after arriving from Colchester and still has just over two left.