New deals for Jones, Brown

Two text messages from Pools this week: one to say Cooper had gone and the other to say that we'd signed up two youngsters on pro contracts. Somehow though I think this latter news will not take the attention away from Neale Cooper's departure.

Brown has caught the eye for both Youth and Reserve teams recently, with his eye for goal - he's scored 31 times this season. Jones meanwhile has progressed steadily since re-joining Pools from Chester-le-Street and is hoping to progress further next season in the Pools defence. Jones had been a part of the Centre of Excellence but was released, before coming back to Pools after having trials with a number of pro clubs.

As they no longer qualified for part of the formal youth setup, Pools took them on pro contracts that were due to expire at the end of this season; both have done enough in the eyes of the club to earn an extension to their deals. While both are reasonably bright prospects, it's unfair to expect too much of them at this stage - both are still qualified for the youth team, in Brown's case for at least another year, and in reality they are probably still some way short of breaking into the first team squad regularly.

While it's encouraging to hear that the club is tieing down a couple of talented young players, the words that the fans really want to hear are about Neale Cooper and his departure. It's a safe bet that those words won't be broken to the world by the Hartlepool Mail, who currently seem to be pursuing something little short of a vendetta against Hodcroft; but there are increasing signs of disquiet amongst the fans. I think though that we won't hear anything until the season is over, one way or another; then the story may begin to leak out, although I won't be entirely surprised if, as when Newell left, the club stays tight-lipped. The difference this time is that Cooper was popular with the majority of fans, and so people are more inclined to demand answers; the question is, will we get them? For the moment though I'm not going to speculate further on the whys and wherefores - what matters now is the game with Bournemouth tomorrow. Look out for Pools Online's regular Match Preview later on today.