John-Joe O'Toole discusses leaving the Cobblers, playing for Burton and a possible career in management

Former Cobblers midfielder John-Joe O’Toole admits last summer felt like the ‘right time’ to leave the club and move on to pastures new.

It was with a heavy heart that O’Toole left the PTS Stadium at the end of last season, when he was one of eight players to be released by manager Keith Curle.

The 31-year-old, who made 194 appearances and scored 35 goals during his five years at the club, signed for League One Burton Albion later that summer.

Whilst it was not easy to leave the Cobblers due to the strong bond he formed with supporters, O’Toole believes the change of scenery has benefited him after an indifferent final 12 months at Northampton.

“I think by the end of the season it felt like it was the right time to move on,” he admits. “Maybe in different circumstances, I could have stayed.

“I felt like I didn’t give the previous manager Dean (Austin) enough in terms of performances, which was disappointing, but it can be so hard when you get relegated because you have that horrible habit of losing and it can be quite difficult to get rid of.

“The injuries were frustrating as well because you always want to be fit and available to play but it can’t be helped sometimes.

“When the new manager came in, he was chopping and changing the team around quite a bit to try and find his best team and work out who he wanted to keep and who was able to play where.

“Sometimes you’re in the team and you’re out of position. I remember I ended up out on the wing on a really windy day at Grimsby and for the last 20 minutes I didn’t see much of the ball – that can be quite frustrating.

“But he was obviously doing what he felt was right. All in all it was a frustrating season and I think it was probably best for both parties to move on.

“As much as I’d have loved to have stayed, sometimes these things run their course.”

However, although he’s loving life at the Pirelli, O’Toole thinks he could have enjoyed at least another 12 months with the Cobblers had things been different.

“Maybe in different circumstances, I might have stayed,” added the midfielder, who scored three goals in 34 games in his final season at the club.

“But I didn’t feel like I was playing well when I did play - and I was quite open about that at the time - and all in all it was probably the right time.

“I had a promotion and a relegation during my time at the club and it just felt like it had run its course.

“But I obviously have a lot of fond memories of the club and I still keep an eye on their results – hopefully they can win promotion if the season is able to resume.

“I got on really well with the fans and I still live around these parts. I also learned a lot during my time there and hopefully I can take that forward if I go into coaching.”

O’Toole’s found a new lease of life since moving up a division, managing 36 appearances - many of which have been at centre-back - as the Brewers flired with the play-offs before settling for mid-table.

Burton were 12th when the campaign was suspended in the middle of March but their hopes of a deep run in the FA Cup were dashed by O'Toole's former team-mates.

“I was obviously gutted about the Northampton game in the FA Cup," he admits. "I had the six-game ban just before, which I felt was harsh, and that was my first match back.

“It wasn’t a nice way to return and Nicky gave me a bit of stick - I think at 4-1 he tried to nutmeg me and I wanted to smash him so bad but in the back of my head I was thinking ‘hang on, it won’t look good for me if I get sent off here after six games out!’

“I had to try and keep my cool but it was disappointing to go out because you always want to get one over your former club and whenever you get drawn at home to a club in the league below, you fancy your chances.

“But I’m really enjoying it at Burton now and it was just the change I needed. I’m also playing in a different position which I wasn’t expecting, so I’ve learned a lot."

At 31, O'Toole still has a few years left in the professional game but he's aleady casting one eye to the future.

"I did by B licence last summer and coaching is something that as time goes by, and the more I think about it, I would quite like to give it a go," he continues.

"I've worked under so many managers during my career and in your head you're thinking 'he should have done this' or 'he shouldn't have done that' but it's obviously a lot harder than people make out.

"There's only one way to find out just how hard it is and that's to give it a go. I would like to do that but there are so many ex-pros who go into management and these days there are also people outside professional football that want to have a go at it as well.

"There's a lot of competition and you might have to wait years to get a job and then only last a few months if it doesn't work out. It's quite a volatile thing so it's not a certainty but I think I would like to give it a go - and who knows, maybe a return to Northampton one day? It would be nice!"