Howey and Butler sign Deadline Day deals

Two in
By Albatross
March 24 2005

To no great surprise, Hartlepool United have confirmed two Deadline Day signings = Steve Howey, and Thomas Butler. Both had been on trial at the club, and Cooper has signed them up to the end of the season presumably for a closer look.

There's not a great deal of surprise at our deadline day signings - Howey has been on trial for about two weeks and Butler was announced as playing for the reserves yesterday. By registering them before the deadline both will be available for the rest of the season, although both lack match fitness and will probably need more training and a reserve match or two before they are likely to be considered.

I suspect that what Cooper is doing here is effectively handing both players an extended trial period. Howey may be a useful player to have around - for cover at least - but at 33 is hardly what you'd call a long term prospect; Butler though is still young enough that a much longer deal isn't out of the question if he impresses enough.

There's been more good news for Pools with Jack Ross having made his comeback with half an hour in yesterday's reserve game; however the Scot may have to sit things out over Easter as it would be a big ask for him to step into the side so soon after his knee injury. Given the performance last weekend, Cooper will probably feel - with some justification - that he's got no need to hurry Ross back.

Meanwhile the Youth Team have continued to impress in the Dallas Cup, and are now into the Semi-Finals of the Super Group following a 4-2 win over SoCal United, aided by a hat-trick from James Brown - presumably he feels good! Friday's Semi-Final will see Pools take on Santos Laguna from Mexico, while Tigres - who finished as runners-up to Pools in Group A - take on defending champions Atletico Paranaense. Laguna will fancy their chances after thrashing Aston Villa in one of their group games - can Pools succeed where Villa have failed?