Adam Boyd goes back to Boston

By Albatross
January 30 2004

Hartlepool United have allowed striker Adam Boyd to rejoin Boston United for a third and final month on loan with the Lincolnshire club. The question is, will it lead to a permanent move?

Boyd returns to Boston for a third month with his future at Pools very much open to question. While he is under contract at Victoria Park until the end of next season, he has yet to feature much for Pools under Neale Cooper, and while Coops has previously stated that he's got no intention of allowing Boyd to leave permanently he may be reviewing that in the light of recent events.

Most obviously is the increase in Boyd's weight while at Boston. Cooper was livid with the young forward when he returned weighing over half a stone more than when he left - and not due to working out in the Gym either - and told the press about his annoyance. Cooper had made noises about seeing how things went over the following couple of weeks; meanwhile Boston manager Neil Thompson has being talking about signing Boyd again, preferably on a permanent deal.

The news that he's been allowed back out on loan for a third and final month may not quite be what Boston fans wanted or expected, but they will no doubt be happy to see him back at York Street after he made a big impression during his first two months. The question remains though, is this going to lead to a permanent transfer?

A lot will depend on whether Pools want a fee for Adam. Boston are part-way through a takeover, and money is tight - so even a fee in the region of 25K would most likely be out of the question. However Boyd seems to be at the end of the queue at Pools - and even though that is shorter than it was with Gabbiadini's retirement and Richardson's departure, he'd still be number four or five on the list, battling it out with Jack Wilkinson for a place in the match-day squad, never mind the slot on the bench. Cooper would be unlikely to allow him to go permanently at the moment, but if we sign another striker he may decide that Boyd is someone he can do without. Boyd's best chance of persuading Cooper otherwise would seem to be knuckling under at Boston, training well and coming back to Pools in tip-top shape in a month's time.