Boyd remains on loan at Boston

By Albatross
December 17 2003

Hartlepool United's young forward Adam Boyd is set to remain on loan at Boston for a second month. The striker has impressed at York Street, and has an interesting encounter to look forward to in the near future....

It's no surprise that Boston have extended Boyd's loan - he's earned rave reviews so far, and has scored twice already. Although it looks unlikely at the moment that the deal will be made permanent, that may still be on the agenda. The extension means that Boyd will be available for the clash with Lincoln on Boxing Day, and a meeting with his fellow Pools Loanee Marcus Richardson.

Would Pools be prepared to let Boyd leave permanently at this stage? Who knows. But it's true that Adam has now failed to find a regular place in the Pools side under three successive managers, and all have shown a degree of frustration with him. Rumours have abounded regarding bust-ups between the young forward and the club, and on more than one occasion I have heard whispers that he was about to be shown the door - always a little wide of the mark as it turned out.

Boyd's talent isn't in question, but his attitude and application is. Are Boston seeing good things from him because it's giving him a kick up the backside - and will he be capable of reproducing that form should he get another chance in the starting eleven at the Vic? It's no doubt going to be a subject of much discussion - but my feeling is that Boyd is going to have to leave Pools and make a fresh start if he is to have a long career in the game. I hope I'm wrong and that he'll return to show us why he was so highly rated - but at the moment I just can't see it happening.

Meanwhile, Coops has admitted that Danny Byrne is having a hard time adapting to Division 2 football, and it will be no surprise if Byrne has to settle for the bench at best on Saturday against Colchester. With his month's loan due to expire next week, Byrne is more likely than not to find that he's back to Man Utd for Christmas - unless he can pull a festive rabbit out of the hat to impress the Pools boss in the next few days.