Williams out on loan again - to Stockport

By Albatross
January 23 2004

Hartlepool United are once again in the loan move headlines; this time it's unsettled goalkeeper Tony Williams out for his second loan spell of the season. The Welsh stopper is going to Stockport County after his drop down the pecking order took a more permanent look this week.

It's hardly a surprise that Taff has gone out on loan again - if anything the only unexpected thing about it is that it's taken this long.

The move was rumoured to be going ahead on the HUFC2003 board yesterday, and a quick bit of research revealed that there were good reasons for it to be more than idle speculation. Stockport are currently very under-strength in the Goalkeeping department, with their regular keeper currently James Spencer - who doesn't even hit 19 until April. Since Lee Jones left in the Summer, other than Spencer the Hatters have had Nick Colgan in goal, but he has returned to Hibernian following the completion of his loan at Edgely Park, leaving Spencer as the only senior keeper at the club.

Meanwhile, Taff has been further marginalised at the Vic by the announcement of an extended deal for Dimi Konstantopoulos, and hasn't had a look in since returning from his spell warming the bench at Swansea. Although Williams looks likely to be doing the same at Stockport - at least initially - he will be hoping to impress Sammy McIlroy enough to get into the side and maybe win a permanent deal.

Also, there has been shock news from Pools of a change to the match-day lineup - for this week at least! Paul Mullen has been dropped as expert summariser on tomorrow's Pools World commentary of the game, and will be replaced by Scottish midfielder Ryan McCann. Following appearances last season from Joe Allon and Mickey Barron, you have to wonder if next up will be Peter Beardsley - and if so, whether simultaneous translation will be available.