A (delayed) Jack Ross Reaction

By Albatross
January 12 2005

It was rumoured over the weekend but only confirmed on Monday Afternoon - by which time I was at Schipol Airport! Therefore, here's a slightly delayed reaction to Jack Ross's request to leave Hartlepool United.

Much has already been written about the decision by Ross to ask for a transfer, and there's no doubt that it is a big disappointment for Neale Cooper. First of all, it makes a mockery of the effort put in by Cooper last season to persuade Ross to come south - apparently in preference to a number of offers from clubs in the SPL, as well as the likes of Falkirk, who had made a number of approaches to Clyde for Ross a couple of years ago. Having been at the club for less than six months - and he's spent a considerable part of that on the sidelines - the news that he's decided for whatever reason that he wants to head north of Hadrian's Wall again is a kick in the teeth.

What Ross's options will be when the International Transfer Window re-opens are unclear. No-one seems to be quite sure what the situation is in terms of whether he would even be allowed to move (due to regulations limiting the number of "cross border" transfers a player can make in one season), and in any case Pools are looking for a fee to compensate them for their investment in Ross; given the perilous state many clubs in Scotland find themselves financially, there could be very few clubs able to buy him anyway. Pools may have to settle for loaning him out, and then looking for a fee at the end of the season if Ross (or his wife to be?) is unhappy enough to want out as soon as possible.

Another blow for Cooper is that once Ross does go, he will be once again very short of options on the right hand side. You get the feeling that Coops wants to give 5-3-2 a try, particularly away from home - and the preferred options for the all-important wing-back roles would be Ross and Robertson, neither of whom have been fit enough at the same time to allow him to try it out. Barron struggles enough at right back, never mind wing-back, and neither Robson or Brackstone would seem to be defensively solid enough to allow them to patrol the left flank alone. Having found the player he wanted in Ross, he's now got to start searching again - and will be hard-pressed to find the right man available at the right price before the end of the season.

Meanwhile, I was unable to follow much of this news due to a business trip to the Netherlands; one highlight though was meeting the former Supporter's Club Chairman of FC Twente, and being able to talk about a certain Rob McKinnon who is apparently a personal friend!

There is some good news for Cooper though: both Robertson and Ben Clark are expected to turn out for the reserves today, and they may be available for Saturday's cup tie with Aldershot Town - although whether they'd be risked beyond a spot on the bench is a matter for speculation. Also, he won't be losing Michael Nelson, or at least not yet - after having an initial bid reported to be 100K apparently turned down, Peter Taylor has revealed that he's not prepared to up his offer further. Taylor seems to think that Nelson, who cost Pools 70K in Summer 2003, has yet to add much to his value - and that certainly doesn't add much weight to the case for Pools to give Nelse an improved contract. It looks like Mickey will be staying at Pools - at least for the moment!