Former Blue George O'Callaghan says a reputation for being “a mix between Joey Barton and George Best” meant that he found it impossible to find a new club in England after leaving Town. The Irishman returned to Cork City on a three-year deal last week.

O'Callaghan told the Irish press: “People see me as a mix between Joey Barton and George Best. My first day in England, someone from the FAI, I won't say who, rang up Ipswich and asked them why they'd signed me, saying I was a bad egg. It came to the stage in England that clubs didn't really want to go near me.

“Dennis Wise told my agent that he wanted me but he'd heard I was a raving lunatic. When Dennis Wise is saying that about you, you haven't got a hope.”

The midfielder says he decided to return to Cork some while ago: “I'd made my mind up to come back early on, especially with Rico [former manager Damien Richardson] going.

“I knew [new boss] Alan [Mathews] was taking over then. And to be fair, things weren't going so well at Ipswich. I didn't want to go down to a League One team. I've missed playing at the Cross.

"I've missed the lads as well, so it's nice to be back and it's like I've never been away really. They know what I'm like, so there's been no problem at all.”

The 28-year-old spent much of the first half of the season on loan at Brighton but that ended after he criticised chairman Dick Knight: “I hammered the chairman in a press interview. I wanted to come home. Ipswich are a fantastic club and if I wasn't going to get to play with them, I wasn't going to stay. I improved as a player there.

“But I'm one of those players that has to be loved. I didn't have that at Ipswich. When that doesn't happen, my heart isn't in it, and I lost interest.”

O'Callaghan made five starts and eight sub appearances in a year with the Blues, scoring one goal.

Elsewhere, Neil Alexander made his debut for Rangers from the bench in their 0-0 draw with Hibs in the Scottish Cup on Sunday after first choice keeper Alan McGregor was red-carded for a professional foul in the 88th minute.

On-loan midfielder Jaime Peters made his debut for Yeovil as they lost 2-0 to Huddersfield on Saturday. The Canadian started the game but was replaced after 74 minutes.

Shane Supple and Billy Clarke's temporary club Falkirk were not in action this weekend.

Photo: Action Images

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