Gulls let Todd go out on loan
Todd, 28, hasn't played for the Gulls since the 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield on September 26, and goes straight into the City team that plays Stevenage Borough in the Blue Square Premier tomorrow, writes Chris Rogers.
The deal was done just before the emergency loan window closed at 5pm yesterday, and Todd will stay at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium until January 1.
He enjoyed a successful eight-game spell with the Whites at the end of last season to help him regain match fitness during his battle against leukaemia.
Todd was then recalled by manager Paul Buckle for the Blue Square Premier promotion run-in and played 90 minutes in the play-off triumph at Wembley, but has made just nine League Two appearances for the Gulls this season.
Todd may be leaving Plainmoor, but on-loan goalkeeper Michael Poke is staying put after all.
Southampton had recalled their stopper after No.1 Kelvin Davis picked up an injury on Tuesday night, but the Football League have blocked the move because the Saints — who already have a replacement in Bartosz Bialkowski — weren't recalling Poke to sell him or play him.
It means Poke will be at Plainmoor until his loan deal expires on January 2 — although he hasn't got permission to play in the Gulls' FA Cup Second Round tie at Stockport County tomorrow (3pm).
"We've had some good news that Michael has been able to come back," said Buckle.
"Southampton haven't been able to recall him, so that's some really positive news for us, although Scott Bevan will play tomorrow and we've got enough hungry players to go there and give Stockport a right game."
Recent addition Chris Zebroski will have to sit out tomorrow too — he's already appeared in the FA Cup for Wycombe Wanderers.
But the remaining trio of Gulls loanees are all eligible to play.
Striker Scott Rendell and winger Jake Thomson both turned out for the Gulls in their first-round defeat of Cheltenham Town, while Tottenham Hotspur yesterday gave United permission to play full-back Adam Smith.
Winger Thomson's availability could be vital for the Gulls, who have fitness concerns over both Marvin Williams and Danny Stevens.
Williams has been suffering with a knock to the knee, while Stevens is still struggling with the illness that kept him out of Tuesday night's 2-2 draw at Port Vale.
"We know we're in for a tough game at Stockport but we've got a great pedigree in the FA Cup and we're looking to maintain that," added Buckle.
"It's massive to the club financially — we've seen that over the past two seasons — and it's good for the players too as there's shocks every year.
"We will be hoping to go and do that up at Stockport."
Youth-teamers Saul Halpin, Ed Palmer and goalkeeper Mike Searle are on standby to take places on the substitutes' bench if needed.
With £27,000 at stake, tomorrow's prize-money is not to be sniffed at.
But, of course, that reward pales into insignificance compared to the potential riches which could be on offer with the right draw in the Third Round.
If United are still involved, they will be No.60 in Sunday's televised draw, after coverage of Kettering's game against Leeds (1.45pm).
Stockport, who have been in administration since April 30, go into tomorrow's game in a lean spell.
They have lost their last four League One games, only Tranmere keep them off the bottom of the table and a 5-0 home win over Tooting & Mitcham in the last round was welcome relief for manager Gary Ablett.
With money tight, former Liverpool star Ablett is working with a very young squad, which included several teenagers on the bench for their 2-0 midweek defeat at Colchester.
But County fans have remained remarkably loyal through a difficult time for the club, and a match at Edgeley Park is never a stroll.
United's youth team, who have beaten Norwich and Swansea in their last two games, have no fixture this weekend.
Comment on this story