Cliff Byrne seals Scunthorpe United return

Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson has revealed that he didn't want to let defender Cliff Byrne leave the club on loan.

Byrne has rejoined former club Scunthorpe United, but while Johnson admits that he would have liked to have kept the 31-year-old, he believes that the Irishman will benefit from the temporary move.

The 32-year-old told the club's official website: "You don't want to lose Cliff with the way he is, he's a great professional and was very good for me last year.

"But, as a manager, I've got to respect that he's so professional and so keen to be playing and, if I can't see him being a mainstay in my team for the immediate future, it's better for him to go and get some games somewhere.

"We had an offer just before the deadline, which I turned down for Cliff because I didn't think it was right for any party but being Scunthorpe, he's a legend there, they love him, he's going to play all the games. It was just right for Cliff really."

Byrne previously made 332 appearances during 10 seasons at Glanford Park.