Retained & Released

GroovyCrimes · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:03 am

Heres the full statement

Quote:

Pools have this morning confirmed details of which players have been released from Victoria Park.

Those that have been released and not offered new deals at Pools are:
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Scott Allison
Robbie Elliott
Ali Gibb
Tom Haigh
Michael Rae
Stephen Turnbull

We'd like to thank young players Scott Allison, Tom Haigh, Michael Rae and Stephen Turnbull for their services to the Club and wish them all the best for the future.

The Club would also like to thank Robbie Elliott for his spell with the Club and would like to offer best wishes for his future plans.

Godwin Antwi has now returned to Liverpool following his season-long loan at Victoria Park but we thank him for his contribution. He was a popular and well-respected member of the squad, who also proved himself an asset off the pitch attending various community projects and attending our Study Support Centre on numerous occasions.

Ali Gibb, who joined Notts County on loan earlier this season, has also been released and we'd like to give him our very best wishes for his future in the game.

The Club are very pleased to announce they have taken up options on the contracts of the following players who we believe are key members in building a successful squad for the 2008/2009 Centenary campaign:

Willie Boland
James Brown
Gary Liddle
Michael Mackay
Andy Monkhouse
Michael Nelson
Joel Porter
Matty Robson
Martin Young

David Foley has been made a contractual offer to extend his stay at Hartlepool United.

aptid · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:49 pm **Posts:** 1506

Does the taking up options bit mean that an offer has been made to the player and it is now up to the player to accept or reject?

Or do we infer that as it has been published, the offers have been accepted.

HUFC Poolie · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:13 am

aptid wrote:

Does the taking up options bit mean that an offer has been made to the player and it is now up to the player to accept or reject?

Or do we infer that as it has been published, the offers have been accepted.

I was wondering that too.. Impression we all got was Skippy aint happy so if he aint accepted then he aint going to be playing 110% is he? :roll:

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:14 am

As I understand it Pools will offer a player a contract for a fixed period with an option for a further fixed period following it. This option for the further period can be exercised solely by the club, the player having committed to it when signing the original contract.

So all of those whose options have been taken up are still under contract to HUFC.

poolieboydave · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:48 am

yeah thats my understanding too. Of course there is still no guarentees that skippy will stay if he really wants to go back to oz/Nz. It does mean however he'd have to break his contract and we may get a fee.

Am very pleased to see Brown, Liddle, Nelse and Monky have their options taken, even if Nelse and Liddle can perform better at this level then they have.

I thought Boland would go, we need a defensive midfielder who can last the course, Boland was a great player and has shown flashes this season, but struggles to get through 90 minutes and has a poor injury record over the last few years.

I also felt foley would go, he has been given lots of chances this season (and last) and hasn't set the world on fire.

Bearing in mind how many players we've kept I don't think we will have many movements over the summer as I can't see how there is room in the wage budget (ok Elliott may have been on a bit, gibb prob average wage but thats it).

Fetish_Bob · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 12:06 pm

The list surprised me , in that both Robson and Foley have been retained. The fact that the 3rd choice 'keeper (Allison) has been released may mean a more reliable 'keeper will be brought in , hopefully as 1st choice.

Elliott is surely the only player amongst the released who would have been on decent wages.

This , to me , seems to mean that the starting 11 on August 9th will be made up of players' from this season. Clark as the holding midfielder seems to be the best option between him and Boland in my opinion.

Maybe a right sided player to free Brown to play up front alongside Porter, or if rumours true Holt and Porter in that position with Brown out right.

I know I not mentioned Barker but feel he was over used at times last season and he does give us a different option up front.

It seems a case of wait and see, more than most seasons as the released list is far shorter than I expected.

TheGingerPoolie · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 12:15 pm

I'm surprised with Boland and Foley but I'm fine with the others. Robson is a good sub to bring on and his passing has improved. Plus he also looks like he wants the ball most of the time.

Warwick Hunt · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 6:21 pm

Thank fook Ali Gibb has gone.

Cowboy · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:03 pm

TheGingerPoolie wrote:

I'm surprised with Boland and Foley but I'm fine with the others. Robson is a good sub to bring on and his passing has improved. Plus he also looks like he wants the ball most of the time.

Sums up my view

Retained & Released

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