News Roundup 21/6/05

By Albatross
June 22 2005

So other than Chris Westwood leaving what's going on at Hartlepool United at the moment? It's fairly quiet at the moment as Scotty's away on a course - expect things to warm up next week.

We're probably going to have to wait a few more days to find out what's going on on the playing and coaching front at Pools: Martin Scott is currently away on a UEFA Pro License course. In the meantime we'll have to make do with rumours.

One that's definately been dispelled though is regarding Kevin Ball becoming our assistant boss. Scotty's former colleague has today made it clear that he's intending to stay at Sunderland, where he's involved in their academy setup. The other name linked is Steve Agnew, but it may depend on whether he feels his career will progress more as the assistant at Pools than as the reserve coach at Leeds.

On the playing front, the main rumour about an arrival seems to be Lee Bullock. The former York midfielder was reported to be a target for Pools last summer before he joined Cardiff; it seems though that he's available again and if he is then a move to Pools for the Stockton-born player is entirely possible.

From Martin Scott's comments following his appointment though we can draw a few inferences about who might be staying - and that may raise an eyebrow or two. Joel Porter's contract gave Pools the option of an extension and unsurprisingly Pools have taken it up; but Scott indicated that the same applies to Hugh Robertson. Shuggie's season was bedeviled by injury, but given his prolonged absence without much news on why after a fleeting return to the first team the speculation was that he was on his way if not already left. The other player set to stay is Darrell Clarke, depite not kicking a ball in anger for Pools last year. Scott may be offering Clarke the chance he feels he was never given at Sunderland, who released him while injured.