Hartlepool United

Pools swoop to sign Lee-Barrett
Hartlepool United have signed 27-year-old goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett from Coventry City. Pools boss Danny Wilson clinched the deal after current number-one Dimi Konstantopoulos rejected the offer of a new contract at Victoria Park. Konstantopoulos, 28, is now set to leave this summer - with Coventry one of the clubs linked with signing him. Lee-Barrett did not play a first-team game for Coventry after joining the club in January from Weymouth.

Haigh signs Hartlepool contract
Teenage Hartlepool midfielder Tom Haigh has signed his first professional contract at Victoria Park. The 18-year-old is the son of a former Pools player Paul Haigh and has been with the club since he was 15. Haigh, who was captain of the youth team last season, has broken both his legs during his time with the club. He told Pools' official website: "It was hard work getting the contract but now I will have to push myself even further to prove myself at this level."

Wrexham snap up striker Williams
Wrexham have signed striker Eifion Williams on a free transfer. The 31-year-old, who was released by Hartlepool at the end of last season, passed a medical at Wrexham on Monday and signed a two-year contract. Williams follows striker Wayne Proctor in switching to the Racecourse this summer from Victoria Park. "I'm delighted to have joined Wrexham and after a successful spell with Hartlepool, I'm hoping I will enjoy something similar here," said Williams. "I spoke to Brian Carey several times and to be honest, once I knew he was serious, I was pretty much set on coming here. "It will also be nice moving back to Wales after 10 years away, but that was not my prime consideration - I wanted to join a club that was looking to go up." Williams began his career as an apprentice at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but failed to win a professional contract. He returned home to Anglesey and joining League of Wales side Caernarfon, where his scoring exploits earned him a £25,000 move to Barry Town in 1997. Less than two years and 68 goals later, Torquay paid £70,000 for him, and Williams made an immediate impact by scoring a hat-trick on his debut. Injuries then began to plague his career and he was offloaded to Hartlepool for £30,000 in March 2002. He finished as The Pools' top-scorer with 15 goals in his first full season, helping them to win automatic promotion to League One.

Barron lands new Hartlepool role
Long-serving Hartlepool United defender Micky Barron is to combine playing with some coaching duties at Victoria Park. "I am still a player and I won't forget that but this is something else I can gradually get more and more into," Barron told Hartlepool's website. The 32-year-old full-back will be involved in coaching and with the club's reserve team. Barron has started almost 350 games for the Pools since signing from Middlesbrough in August 1997.

Williams signs Bantams contract
Bradford boss Stuart McCall has completed the signing of former Hartlepool full-back Darren Williams. The 30-year-old former England Under-21 international was a free agent after being released by Pools at the end of last season and had impressed on trial. Williams, who can also operate anywhere across the back four or in midfield, has signed a one-year contract. Meanwhile, former Sheffield United midfielder Kyle Nix, 21, has joined the Bantams on a monthly contract. He has signed so that McCall can take a closer look at him before the transfer window closes at the end of August. The arrival of Williams and Nix comes on the same day as that of striker Nathan Joynes, who has joined on a six-month loan from Barnsley. But three other trialists - Simon Johnson, Kris Gate and Peter Leven - have left after failing to secure a deal, with Johnson joining Hereford on trial.

Bullock on verge of Stags switch
Hartlepool United midfielder Lee Bullock is to join Mansfield Town on a month's loan. Bullock, 26, will link up with the Stags on Thursday after failing to figure for Pools this season since their promotion to League One. "He's got experience and an eye for goal. He gives us an extra dimension in the middle of the park," Mansfield boss Billy Dearden told his club's website. Bullock has started 36 games for Hartlepool since signing in June, 2005.

Bullock completes Mansfield move
Hartlepool United midfielder Lee Bullock has joined Mansfield Town on a month's loan. Bullock, 26, has linked up with the Stags after failing to figure for Pools this season since their promotion to League One. "He's got experience and an eye for goal. He gives us an extra dimension in the middle of the park," Mansfield boss Billy Dearden told his club's website. Bullock has started 36 games for Hartlepool since signing in June, 2005.

Wilson pleased with routine win
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson was a happy man after seeing his side ease past Chesterfield and into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. James Brown scored twice and also found the net before the Spireites grabbed a late consolation. "I would have liked a clean sheet but I was pleased with many aspects of the game and we could have scored more goals," Wilson said. "James Brown has started the season really well - he's proving a danger."

Wilson hails 'great' performance
Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson hailed his side after they shattered Leyton Orient's unbeaten record with a convincing performance. "It was a great performance and we scored some great goals," wilson said after the 4-2 win. "I think we controlled the game for long periods and the only disappointment was that we gave them a chink of light to get back into it. "We had enough chances to have killed the game off but the best team won."

Wilson calls for killer instinct
Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson says he wants his side to show to more killer instinct after seeing them fail to kill off struggling Bournemouth. "We've had too many games like that this season," said Wilson after Sunday's 1-1 draw. "There were so many chances we could have been a couple of goals up before they went in front." "We got into coms good positions but didn't really deliver the telling ball. We've got to be nastier in there."

Wilson rues missed opportunities
Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson lamented his side's failure to convert chances into goals as they went down 2-1 at Gillingham. "We had enough chances in the first half to have put the game beyond them," said Wilson. "But putting the ball in the net is the hardest thing to do and we're just struggling in that area at the moment. "The lads dominated possession but we have to start finishing off the chances we create."

Pools boosted by Humphreys scan
Scans have revealed that Hartlepool midfielder Ritchie Humphreys did not break a foot on Saturday at Yeovil. "It looks as though it's just severe bruising," manager Danny Wilson told Hartlepool's website. "Obviously we were concerned but we will continue to assess him during the week and we're hopeful he'll be all right for Saturday." The Pools squad is stretched with Jamie McCunnie facing a scan on a knee injury and four others suffering with knocks. Joel Porter, Tony Sweeney, Andy Monkhouse and Ben Clark are also struggling with injuries.

Clark signs new Hartlepool deal
Defender Ben Clark has given Hartlepool a pre-Christmas boost by putting pen to paper on a new contract. The 24-year-old has made 124 league and cup appearances since joining from Sunderland in October 2004. "At the start of the season I wasn't in the side, but the manager (Danny Wilson) reassured me I was a part of his plans," he told the club website. "I had a tough period for personal reasons last season, but the gaffer was excellent and I want to repay him."

Bradford move for Pools' Bullock
Hartlepool midfielder Lee Bullock has completed his move to League Two side Bradford on a month's loan. It will be the 26-year-old's third temporary move to League Two this season, following previous loan stints with Mansfield and Bury. The former York and Cardiff player has played more than 50 games for Pools but has not figured for them this season. Meanwhile, Bradford midfielder Kyle Nix has had his contract at Valley Parade extended until the end of the season. His short-term deal had been due to expire on 31 December.

Pools terminate Nolan loan deal
Hartlepool United have allowed defender Eddie Nolan to return to Blackburn following a two-month loan spell. The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland Under-21 player started 12 games during his stay with the League One side. "I’m certain that Eddie will have a very bright future in front of him and I wish him well," Pools boss Danny Wilson told the club website. Wilson wants to add to his squad before the transfer window closes following a run of six games without a win.

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