Ins and Outs - two more out on loan

By Albatross
January 15 2004

More info is starting to emerge about new signing Scott Walker - and Pools now have six players out on loan following the announcement that trainees Andrew Appleby and Darren Craddock are going to be spending some time at Whitby. Carlisle are also interested in taking Paul Arnison permanently.

With two more players out on loan - although as youth teamers Appleby and Craddock are officially on Work Experience - the current total runs at six away from the club. Four are in the Unibond Premier, while two are in Division 3.

Easter and Robinson are still out at Spennymoor, and are not exactly having a great time of it. While both have been playing regularly, Spenny's form has been poor - there has been just one win for them to cheer, a 4-2 victory over Billingham Synthonia in the Durham Challenge Cup. Easter scored a hat-trick in that game but has otherwise failed to hit the net; he was Man of the Match for the Moors against Harrogate Town last weekend, but as they were on the end of a 5-1 drubbing it hardly gave him a chance to show what he could do.

Adam Boyd meanwhile is blowing hot and cold at Boston. He's scored three goals so far, and has made some impressive contributions - but has also been somewhat anonymous on occasions. He's now been there for two months, and we should be getting news shortly on whether his loan spell will be extended.

Paul Arnison has been at Carlisle for slightly longer, and the three months he's allowed to be on loan for is up at the end of the month. Arno seems to have been a real hit at Brunton Park - ten appearances and even a goal - and Paul Simpson has told local radio in Cumbria that he would like to make the move permanent. Their fans seem to rate him, and it would be no surprise if Pools are prepared to do a deal with the Cumbrians similar to the one that took Hendo there - Arnison's contract is only until the end of the season, and it looks suspiciously like he has no part to play in Neale Cooper's plans.

Information is starting to trickle through about new signing Scott Walker. A bit of fishing on the Dunfermline board reveals that he was fairly well thought of by some of the Pars fans - some of them seem to think that he didn't really get a fair crack of the whip there. For the most part it sounds like he's a solid enough centre half, not afraid to get stuck in, and not without some skill either. However, his experiences at left back seem to be not entirely happy - according to at least one Pars fan he had an absolute nightmare there against Hearts last season. It looks like he's primarily here as backup and possibly to play as part of a back three, as he's rated mainly as a no-nonsense man marker by those at East End Park.