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Come on Raj, don't let this happen! Sure he'll sign for Pools if the money's right.

Sadly this is what we're now dealing with, a plethora of clubs who, let's be frank, mean nothing to anyone but are propped up by sugar daddies who'll happily pay almost any sum to get promoted. Can't really blame Pools in this instance, I've heard Harrogate are offering him 3k for a several year contract, that, to refrain from swearing, is absolutely barmy at this level.

I can't see us keeping him to be honest.

3k a week on 7 year contract, I don't believe it.

I don't think we've got a hope of keeping all the players from the squad that we've had this season, sadly. What matters, is keeping the manager and as many players we can, then backing him to bring in a new bunch of 'misfits' who have the right attitude and are currently undervalued and available. It's very much the Moneyball / Brentford approach.

If he goes then he leaves with best wishes and huge thanks for getting us out of the national league. This is the nature of loan deals and we have to be realistic about what we can afford next season. I hope he stays, but if not I baxk Challinor and Raj to secure a suitable replacement.

Has like Armstrong not got a future with Salford as he seems to be loaned out quite a lot surely dc and raj can tempt him to stay as we will be in the
same league as Salford and Harrogate I am sure he will be happier at pools

I’ve heard Johnson has signed for Port Vale.

I wish Wrexham would appoint a manager as well, FFS

Colovan has signed for Port Vale

I can’t see Armstrong going to Harrogate. He has a year on his contract at Salford left. He’ll stay there or I hope he will come here to work with DC. Money is a really big factor but so is enjoying his football.

he is still a young lad and may value money higher than anything at the moment. enjoying your game and being one of the fans favourites may seem not as important. if he has a poor game with us he,ll get some slack off us. having a poor spell at harrogate or anywhere else could see him as their number one player to constantly give a bit of stick too. its only a sideways move anyway. if it was a division 1club after him he should jump at that. if he does go for the money he could join a long list of players who will regret it in the future.

Johnson to Port Vale,not heard that one yet!. Need to get these players tied down ASAP!!

i,ll only be happy when names come up who we have signed and have extended their contracts. at the moment players are still under contract at clubs until july 1st. after that without any news its nail biting times.

well they signed a guy who was maidenheads top scorer yesterday, Orsi. possibly less of a chance him going there now unless they are really prepared to sign everyone they can just to buy another promotion.

Ive been having a scan through the pictures of the bus parade and can't see Armstrong in there? Was he on the bus with the team? Not a good sign for us if not unless there were other circumstances etc.

Yes Armstrong was definitely there last night. The only players that weren't were Oates (at a wedding), Luke Williams and Cunningham.

Whatever happened to Bloomfield!?

Bloomfield and Ofosu both got furloughed about 3 months ago.

Luke Williams was on the bus at Seaton front!

Luke Williams was on the bus at Seaton front!

Oh well if Luke Williams was there then only Oates and Cunningham were missing (as well as Ravas who disappeared before the final).

Just announced on Harrogate site

That's a shame that good luck, hope he does not score against us wonder what turned his head, and how much?

3k I heard for a several year contract.

Good luck Harrogate, funny, you seem to remind me of a club from Dumfries who used to pay players that much in Scotland's league two....wonder what happened to them? cough lowland league cough.

Plus an undisclosed fee. Hard for most teams in League 2 to compete with that.

Well as we all know..paying stupid money, doesn't guarantee success.

Aye Rushton & Diamonds spring to mind - quite a few bankrolled clubs in L2 now wonder which will pop first

Just the move to get his career back on track says Armstrong. Hasn't he just done that with Pools?????

Genuinely forgot they existed.

You just know they're going to be on a quiz show like Pointless in 10 years time, along with Kidderminster Harriers and Boston United

So Armstrong has signed a permanent deal with Harrogate so disappointing as Harrogate are saying how well he done for us in our promotion season

Gone to Harrogate without so much as a look back or a word of thanks to Pools for turning his playing fortunes around, according to his quotes in the Mail. Big contrast to Danny Elliot's 'classy' goodbye message to Pools on being released, reported in the same paper.

Disappointing, but Luke Armstrong played a big part in us going up - in the long term that will matter a lot more to Poolies than today's news. Can't quite bring myself to wish him well at feckin' Harrogate all the same!

Nothing on pools website?
What is the retained list for next year.

He’d peaked anyway.

No good trying to keep a player who thinks he will be better somewhere,else. I think he might be in for a shock though?
So we move on. UTP

So he signs for a club that attracts crowds of 2000,cudnt imagine if they were top the crowds would be much better

Said this ages ago ... mans not that good. Not worried at all. He was a gamble for us that actually paid off. Too many games he went missing unfortunately. Im sure DC has another few tricks up his sleeve and no doubt find us a permanent replacement, that dare i say it will be better. Wish him well at Harrogate only becuase he notched in the final. On we go

agree with eiphos. No great loss really. It's just the lack of loyalty that hurts. All the jumping around at Bristol last week end. Meant nothing to him as a player. Holding the badge and the rest. Pools be around long after Armstrong searching for a living in football. UTP.

Cheers for the goals.
I'm sure DC can find a decent forward and other decent players come August.
UTP.

Basically we have fallen victim to the delayed start to the season and very late finish. With players not under contract they are always likely to take a job offer in a higher league, who can blame them? With Covid who's to know how many players will be employed by clubs.

As for Armstrong, he was only on loan, he had a contract at Salford but clearly not in their plans and offered a decent contract at Harrogate, the security makes him happy.

The extra month on the season will make life hard next season without more excellent loans.

Armstrong will have to up his work rate to maintain a place in Harrogate's team and needs to keep improving with age.

Saunders has also joined Bristol Rovers, even though he never figured much for us.

they would if they could get more away fans in. might as well do an accrington at their place and give half their ground over to away fans to get close to a sell out.

[quote="Snailwood2"]

As for Armstrong, he was only on loan, he had a contract at Salford but clearly not in their plans and offered a decent contract at Harrogate, the security makes him happy.

think some forget he was on loan and not our player anyway. his bank balance may be bigger but not all signings ever come off. he has gone from being one of the fans favourites which must be worth something itself to a club where they might get on his back if his goalscoring dips below what it did with pools. all fans have question marks in their heads about players that cost a bit of cash. remember they are a yorkshire based club.

I wonder what sort of reception he will get when Port Vale visit The Vic.

It will be lovely. He won't forget it.

Surprised at the negativity towards LA. I for one am very grateful for the massive part he played in our promotion. If memories are failing, he scored our goal in the play off final!

He's obviously took the option of a bigger wage with Harrogate and as he has no ties to Hartlepool who can blame him. I wish him well.

Thought he worked his socks off in every game and was the catalyst for the change in our fortunes. Without him it’s very unlikely we’d be back in the Football League. Good luck to him.

Good luck to him, has been fantastic for us and I for one would have loved him to say. Would love to have kept this side together but that was unlikely so we have to trust DC can get the right replacements in.

Salford played a blinder there.

Reading an article challinor said salford accepted harrogates offer and never gave us the chance to bid..looks like Armstrong had no choice

It doesn’t look like we could have afforded him whether we were in the NL or L2. He’s got to follow the money I suppose. Of course we are sad to see him go, he was great for us and I wish him all the best. Hopefully we can keep a few who have been offered deals. Oates & featherstone particularly. Be nice to see some signings next week

After the recent spotlight on Rhys Oates don't be surprised to see him snapped up by a moneybags club.