Miller lined up for Pools return?

Neale Cooper is going back to his Scottish roots in an attempt to strengthen the Hartlepool United squad for next season, and could also be tempted to turn to one of the club's old boys.

Inverness wide man Johnny Hayes is expected to be a free agent this summer, despite being offered a new contract by Inverness boss Terry Butcher.

But there could be a lot of competition for the Irishman, who is also said to be a target for Cooper’s old club Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, former Pools favourite Tommy Miller is also free to find a new club after being released by League One play-off winners Huddersfield. Miller was a regular for Town in the second half of the season.

Miller, who is now 33, left Pools for Ipswich in a £750,000 deal in 2001 and could be seen to be the perfect experienced midfield player to bring out the best of a Pools team which coiuld be short on know-how.

For many fans, the return of Miller would be regarded as a major step forwarded, though there is always a school of thought in football that you should never go back to your old club, and if that applies to Miller it surely also applies to Steve Howard, another who is being touted for a Pools return.

Meanwhile, the club’s season tickets sales have passed the 1,000 barrier at the new price of £155, though there is a long way to go before they hit 5,000, when all holders will be entered for a £15,000 prize draw.

The club considers 1,000 sales before the beginning of June to be a good figure, as sales in the past have shot up with news of new signings at the Vic. Whether the same happens this time round remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, there is one worrying sign ... all the bookies make Pools the pre-season favouriutes to be relegated. Fortunately, they have been wrong before.