Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has hit out at Blackburn Rovers for “letting down” Lewis O’Brien over the collapse of his January deadline day move.
The midfielder had been due to join the Championship side on loan for the rest of the season, in a deal which would also include a purchase clause should promotion be achieved. However, an issue over the timing of the paperwork being filed before the window closed meant the switch was not approved by the English Football League.
Rovers challenged the decision, but an independent arbitrator this week rejected their claim. With O’Brien having been left out of the Reds’ 25-man Premier League squad, he faces the prospect of not playing competitively for the next few months. A loan move to the MLS remains an option, however, with their window remaining open until April 24.
