Rovers Still Chase O’Toole

John-Joe O’Toole has resumed pre-season training with the U’s throughout the past few days but his future remains in the air, with Bristol Rovers continuing to pursue the combative midfielder.

O’Toole struggled to break into the set up that U’s boss Joe Dunne wanted to instill on the side, and he was shipped out to Bristol Rovers on loan between January and April, where he made a big impression.

And the Pirates have continued to pursue a permanent deal for the 24-year-old central midfielder, who the U’s signed for a reported fee in the region of £250,000 back under the regime of Aidy Boothroyd.

Ex-U’s manager and currently in charge of Bristol Rovers, John Ward, told the local press in Bristol that there were a number of clubs interested in the midfielder – one of which would be Northampton, presumably, with Boothroyd likely to be interested in linking up with O’Toole once more.

‘We are still trying to see if we can do something with John-Joe O’Toole,’ admitted Ward.

‘Colchester are in the driving seat because John-Joe is under contract. If they want him to stay there then there isn’t anything we can do.

‘We’re trying to get it sorted, but there are obstacles in the way and we are also aware that two or three other clubs are interested in him.’

O’Toole only signed a new two-year deal with the club last summer whilst Ward was in charge, so the Rovers boss will be only too aware of the current package O’Toole is signed up to.

With a host of central midfielders contracted to the club in Marcus Bean, Andy Bond, Craig Eastmond, Alex Gilbey, Kem Izzet, O’Toole, Jordan Sanderson and David Wright, the U’s may find they need O’Toole to move on to free up wages elsewhere.


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