Both signed for Port Vale. Teammates at Pools from 2014-2016. Feels like a very long time ago, but Brad is still only 25 and Dan 26!

Dan spent a month on loan with Dave Challinor's Fylde side back in 2017.

League Two clubs are getting a load of transfer business done while Pools are focused on the play offs. The likes of Port Vale will already have had a 6 week break from football on the day the NL play-off final is settled.

With the League Two season starting on 7th August, whoever wins promotion at Bristol will have 7 weeks to announce a retained list, negotiate contracts, recruit, take a break and do a pre-season, including friendlies! Genius decision not to start the current NL season till October but keep the end of season play offs.

The NL season starts only a week later, on 14th August, but at least most of the clubs in it are in the same boat.

Yet another gaffe from the National League. Next season starts ridiculously late as well. Most other NL clubs have released, signed and set up friendlies except the ones in the playoffs. It became evidently clear in August last year that fans wouldn't be in stadiums for a good few months. No idea why NL just didn't start in September, and most other leagues could have started in late August as well. If you're going to make a connected pyramid, make every league start on the same day.

Would bet my last pound coin on a lockdown in September.

What makes you say that re lockdown in September?

Cos there's to many idiots still being blase about Covid and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell us how easy it can spread again vaccines or not.

I was in Hartlepool town centre yesterday for the first time in ages and the amount of idiots of all ages walking around with no mask on at all or wearing chin warmers was astounding despite constant announcements to wear one and the lack of spineless security to enforce it. FFS!!!!!!

the NL put everything on not starting the season without fans. their take really worked didn,t it. eventually they,ll get it right sometime but only by the laws of average. play off winners have always been at a disadvantage normally due to not knowing what league they,ll be playing in which does not help with decisions on releasing players or recruitment. however i imagine a few pools players may know already that unofficially they will not be at the vic next season.

if they were outside and not in the middleton grange they do not need to wear em anyway.

INSIDE!!!!!!!!

Kids return to school.
Colder weather.
People getting colds.
Covid tests picking up the common cold.
Teachers worrying if cold symptoms are covid.
Media pressure on government.
Government begin to worry.
Lockdown. Rinse and repeat (if you pardon the pun).

The fact theyve even insinuated that July 21st may be postponed shows me they have something planned they're not telling us.

Same all over - I was in a motorway service station near Blackburn yesterday afternoon and was astonished at the behaviour of many - use of facemasks down to a small minority - I daren't describe the minority for fear of attack as a racist - suffice to say that the groups clearly flouting the rules are from a wider grouping who aren't apparently being looked after properly.

Oh well, won't stop there on the way to Bristol.

I always rated Dan Jones - but he never seemed to deliver

It's already a racing certainty that full relaxation of the lockdown won't happen on 21st June - various ministers all dropping the same hints.

I think there might still be some relaxation - in the form of increased capacities - for outdoor events as the scientific evidence is overwhelming that it's extremely difficult to transmit Covid outdoors - particularly if people are wearing masks.

Incidentally, plenty of people in the Millhouse seats for Bromley game wore their masks round their chins and there wasn't a member of a 'minority' to be seen, unless I count because I'm a Yakker. I expect the stewarding will be a lot stricter if we get to Bristol for the final.

I rated him too and thought he was unlucky to get released in Hignett's first spell in charge. He'd have been better than that tool Blair Adams that Harrison brought in.

the millhouse and the rest of the ground are outside. on sunday at stockport you have to cover up on entering the ground but can take em off once you are seated. so whats the difference. right at the start of this muzzle wearing fiasco i have heard of no medics ever coming out with the total necessity of wearing them anyway. if they had it would have been all over the media and they,d be constantly banging on about it like vaccinations. the only thing i ever did hear was a trial that took place in denmark where the wering or not wearing of face coverings made no difference whatsoever in transmissions. i,ll be first in line for my two pricks if once done you are allowed to breath again without em.