Matt Richards's half-season loan with Brighton was brought to a quiet end with the Seagulls' game against Northampton at the Withdean Stadium succumbing to the weather. The League One match was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Richards has made 65 appearances for Albion across three loan spells, scoring twice.

Assistant manager Dean White says the Seagulls are considering whether to make the former England U21 international's move a permanent one in January: "We will have to wait and see what occurs on that one. We have got to just take stock and decide which way we want to go.

"Matt has got to look at his options and we'll be looking at our options as well. He has done OK for us."

The postponement also ended on-loan Town defender Kurt Robinson's chance of making his senior debut for the Cobblers. Boss Stuart Gray had said earlier in the week that he was thinking about playing the left-back at Brighton.

After the game was called off Gray said he would be speaking to Town regarding Robinson's future, the 19-year-old's one-month spell now having finished: "I need to talk to Ipswich about Kurt Robinson and see where we go from there with Kurt."

Striker Dean Bowditch is now the only Town player out on loan with his spell at Brentford due to end on January 10th. The Bees weren't in action today as their match with Chesterfield was postponed due to the Spireites taking on the Blues in the FA Cup.

Liam Trotter, Billy Clarke, Dan Harding and Chris Casement have already returned to Portman Road after their loan spells at Grimsby, Darlington, Southend and Hamilton respectively.

Photo: Action Images

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