NORTHAMPTON Town boss Chris Wilder insists John-Joe O’Toole’s loan switch to Southend United might not have gone ahead if he had not been given permission to play against his parent club.
O’Toole is free to face the Cobblers at Roots Hall tomorrow and at the Sixfields Stadium in early January.
But only after Shrimpers boss Phil Brown demanded the midfielder was available.
“Because Southend are out of the FA Cup and two of the games are against us, they weren't too happy that he wouldn't be available for them in the matches we have against them,” said Wilder.
“We've therefore taken a view on it that we'll let him play.
“If we didn't allow him to then the deal might not have gone through so it's been a tough decision to make and one we haven't taken lightly.”
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