Apparently he is out of contract.

It has given me enormous pleasure to watch his performances in the last half dozen games once he has been played in his best position in the middle of midfield.

I know that the only point of view countenanced by the more vocal and more frequent posters on here is that he is overweight/ disloyal / shite/ guilty of the murder of John F Kennedy but I know that that doesn't reflect the views of most of the Poolies that I speak to at the match.

So let's see what the wider Bunker panel think (ie not just Mr I and Chip). Vote please.

He is already making plans for his testimonial season next year so I'd be very surprised if he was out of contract.

I'm dreading where this thread is going to end up already.

yes, 1 year contract, but should only be a squad player.

I hope we don't play the fookin wendies for his testimonial.

I'd give him another year

if he's out of contract i'll eat my own cock.

His testimonial party is slready booked

Another year, I really don't see the issue.

He is still a capable player and should remain part of the squad. Keep Jones (which I can't see)and pair him with Gamble after a good pre season and those two should play centre midfield. Humps as back for up Gamble, scatter Sweeney (which I can't see, but he really isn't good enough) get someone better to compete with Jones.

Fully concurring with what was said above, let's put a heavy emphasis on rewarding a loyal, but jaded, servant of the club, above trying to win back the fan's we've sadly lost this season.

He is out of contract, and he is a Sheffield United fan so I doubt he would want Wednesday.

He isn't really a player for the future and unless you're a couple of goals to the good and looking to kill a game off I can't think of any situation that would warrant bringing him on.

For that reason I can't see any point in keeping him.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A few decent games against the dross of the division and all the other pathetic performances for the past 2/3 years are forgiven. [shakes head]. Put him up against anyone with a turn of pace (in any division) and he's as lost Mark Thatcher with sand in his boots.

I agree that he has improved a tad over recent games in the centre of the park but he should be a squad player at best. Giving him a 2 year contract would be criminal in my opinion. 1 year - I can sort of undertand (sort of!)

it would confirm once and for all that Pools is a "jobs for the boys " club if he plays again next season

Wish he was still that good.

Heres Peter Beardsley's best bits. Mind you he wasn't playing for Hartlepool then either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYil_M0F_3s

It was a tongue in cheek video.

I said at the end of last season that Humps should be only a squad player for this season.

As pointed out by Chip you can't run a football club on sentiment. Having said that like Ripper I would give him a year contract as a back up player and nothing more for next season.

I appreciate what he has done for Pools over his service to us but when the time is right to move on then it's simply time to do so. Great servant to the club and should always be remembered for that, and not the fact that for many seasons he was played out of position at left back, and for the good games he has completed, which over the years outweigh the bad ones of the last couple of seasons. people shouldn't remember him solely on them.

I was told a few weeks ago by what should be a good source that he's retiring from playing this summer and going into coaching full-time. Unfortunately I'm not sure whether to believe them or not, as everything else they told me (non-Pools) has turned out to be wrong in fact mostly the exact opposite, so he'll probably play on for another 30 years...

He's signing for another 2 years along with Jones

HTH

Three things that there are more chance of than Ritchie Jones getting any sort of contract:

1.Gordon Brown winning a historic landslide election victory
2. There being enough balti pies at the match ' how many people do I have to tell, no there's none left - there's no demand for them!'
3. Mr I entering into a civil partnership with Ritchie Humphreys