Boss Sandy’s joy as former Cobblers ace John-Joe O’Toole makes Diamonds debut after shock signing
Elliot Sandy admits he is delighted to have former Northampton Town midfielder John-Joe O'Toole in his AFC Rushden & Diamonds squad - and is hoping it will 'a longer term' alliance.
A title winner with the Cobblers in 2016, O'Toole has a wealth of Football League experience, having played more than 500 senior matches for a host of clubs, including Watford, Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town.
The 37-year-old spent four successful years at Sixfields and was also part of the AFC Wimbledon squad that won promotion from Sky Bet League Two last season, but has been without a club since the summer after his departure from the south Londoners.
O'Toole was announced as a Diamonds signing to much fanfare on Friday night, and then made his debut in Saturday's 2-0 win over Sutton Coldfield Town, playing the full 90 minutes.
Sandy was asked how the move to Rushden came about, and he revealed that former Diamonds player Gary Mulligan played a significant role in O'Toole making the move to Hayden Road.
"Before John-Joe's move to Mansfield (in the summer of 2021), he came to Corby when me and Mullers were there, just to get some games in in pre-season," Sandy told @AFCRD.
"He's a Northampton lad so is still local, and Mullers stayed in touch with him and became friends with him.
"Mullers then messaged me and said 'would you be interested in JJ?' And I was like, yes, obviously.
"He has been training with us for six weeks, and has had other offers from bigger clubs which would mean more travelling and things like that.
"But he is at an age now, where we train round the corner from his house, he knows us, knows what he is going to get, knows about the club and the size of it and wants to play in front of good fans as well.
"Now he has signed for us, we will probably get 100 seven dayers in for him, but we know what he wants.
"We have done everything he has asked of us, and he is doing everything we are asking of him and long may that continue.
"We will enjoy it while he is here and we hope that is longer term, but you never know in football with other clubs and what they can do.
"But at the minute he wants to be here which is superb, and we are happy to have him."
O'Toole is set to make his second appearance in a Diamonds shirt in Tuesday night's Hayden Road clash with Anstey Nomads (ko 7.45pm).