Monkhouse Walton Boagey Rutherford

Is that it?

Others in talks.

James and Duckworth have there extra years activated. We should be offering them new contracts imo.

Will there ever be a mass clearout at Pools? EVER?

You see other clubs released lists and reads like phone books.

The less that leave the less that come in.

Who's excited?

Got to presume those not mentioned then are in talks and are being offered deals? Ie Sweeney, Collins and Poole?

You also have to presume the club would like to keep them, thus, again, meaning the less that leave the less come in

I'm shocked, first I've heard about Monkhouse and Walton.

Hard to regret any of those. Walton flattered to deceive and we've seen the best of Monkey.

Can't argue with them so far, I think Poole will go as well as Sweeney from the rest.

hope so, we don't need those two taking up two squad places!!!

As long as Jordan Mellish is still in there we'll be OK.

Don't know how to tell you this...

As it stands we have 11 players contracted to the club. I reckon Collins will be offered a player/coach role and Austin as skipper. So that's 13 meaning we have at least 6 or 7 seven signings to look forward to.

Of the players who have had the options taken up I could only see good reason to release Franks.

I agree but we must be offering them something for them not to be released already.

That is worrying.

I think they'll both be able to match their wages elsewhere in L2, can't see either staying to be fair.

I disagree Poole and Sweeney have just lost out in this seasons game of 'cruel holiday text dump' Roulette and should expect the deadly double beep at some point in the next week.

This seasons texts will be sent by Rod the Steward.

The fact Poole and Sweeneys futures even need to be in discussion is an absolute joke, both should be out the door after having numerous chances over the last few seasons. Im sure they just want to keep Sweeney as he is a link to when we were successful and IOR dont want to loose another ritchie! As for Poole someone must be waiting for him to come good when he hits 35! Hes a lazy get who shows no desire and constantly has a bad attitude on the pitch, hes similar in stature to Luke James yet he gets shown up by Luke in the effort and commitment department! He's obviously not got the heart for it! These two must surely think its time to move on!

I've got Players in my Sunday team better than Sweeney.,

Whilst I agree with the releasing of Walton n monk it seems daft to let players go who've started over 30 games yet keep a centre mid whose best days are way behind him and started barely any games.

Pooles been here 3 years n it just hasn't happened for him, maybe he needs a fresh start as much as we do from him


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Think it means we are prepared to keep you on significantly reduced wages

I can't help but feel very disheartened. I was hoping the rumours about the retained list would be incorrect. I wasn't fussed on Walton at first but slowly he won me over and I don't think we should have got rid. We rarely looked as good in midfield without him imo. Monkhouse couldn't hack league 1 but as with Walton we typically played better with him than without him and he knew where the goal was. Offering Poole another deal is crazy imo. The club fucking stinks as far as I'm concerned. We are supposed to be a business but no businesses would carry on like the club do. The decision making process is a shambles . The happy clappy brigade can try and convince the rest pre season that the club know what they are doing but we've seen this shit time and time again haven't we. The desire for binning the crap never materialises. The clear out never happens. I know I'm a negative twat but I'm feeling more negative than ever right now. Only pop music can save us now.



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Grave, just because we were better with Walton in the team, doesn't mean we were good enough!

If Cooper wants a top 7 finish, then he needs better quality in midfield. Walton was only able to play as a holding midfielder, we need better all-round midfielder, hopefully one faster than a snail. You have to also take into account his wage, he was signed when we were in League 1 so will no doubt have been on half decent wages. Was he worth what we were paying, i doubt it.

Slightly disappointed we released Monkey, but for the exact same reason as you are re: Walton. Again, for the wages, which will be of League 1 standard, can we not get better than a 6 goal a season winger? I think we can.

I think its daft to offer Sweeney and Poole contracts, but i imagine they will both be offered drastically lower than they were before.

I think it leaves us scope to bring in 5 decent enough quality players.

The thing i'm most shocked at is the fact we've allowed Luke James to get within one year of being out of contract. He needs a long term contract NOW! Same with Duckworth

You keep saying League 1 Wage but I was under the impression they got a pay cut for getting us relegated!!!!

its conjecture on my part Mutley, but even the standard 20% pay cut for relegation would still mean higher than normal League 2 wages.

I heard Monkey was on close to 1800 a week, might be bollocks, might not.

I still think monkhouse should have been given a striking role alongside James for a season. A far better alternative to Harewood imo and probably a lot cheaper.

It's funny how opinions about Walton have changed. Early on when we signed him I recall getting pelters for saying he was just too slow. Then I started to appreciate other parts of his game like how he makes himself available and gives the midfield ability to keep the ball. Many others have now concluded he was too slow and we are better of getting rid. He certainly seems to have divided opinion .

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I was told he was on a basic 1750 a week just for being on the bench! Then another 250 for playing any minutes in a game that week! And then a win bonus of 250 a week or a scoring bonus win lose or draw but not both!! And that came from the inside.........

I have always liked Monkey but rather than spend time playing a veteran winger up front maybe spending the money on an actual striker might be a plan!

If that's true then fair enough about releasing him. What worries me is that I imagine we are paying Harewood considerably more than that. Saving money is one thing but we need to use what we have wisely.

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I am certain this is true because this person has never lied or got things wrong in the past! Lets hope ALL the money saved is used on a stronger squad and not put down the Kensink again

I have to be honest I never believe what people say players are on. The only ones who will know what Monkhouse was on would be Hodcroft/ Green/ Monkhouse/ Monkhouse agent and Monkhouse Mrs. And the secretary who drew up the contract, but even then that might be left blank and filled in when signing the contract, so she only a possibility.

I heard something first hand from a player this week about the nature of the contracts some of the younger players in the squad have, which was in answer to a question I asked about something unrelated.

Fair point Bob! But footballers love to brag and be top dog in every club in the world and like Shearer ( had at Newcastle ) lots have a clause to always be top earner at that club until contract expires. It does not take long in "say" a factory for everyone to find out that so n so got this rise or this bonus /perk or expense. Footballers are near the top of any league for bragging about contracts which is mostly backed up by better faster cars but are also close to bottom of the league when it comes to discretion and common sense. Vast majority of footballers live in a " bubble world " and have a bragging mentality that is normal in football dressing rooms. Its all about status or being top dog at a club and players love all this shit its all part of being a pro footballer and earning the very best deal you can. I was told its totally impossible to keep anything quiet at small clubs because everyone knows everyone and people talk. Managers are often told to put a boot up a players backside and remind him he is the top earner and needs to match that and be the top leader on the pitch. Its also a well known fact that directors at clubs spill the beans on players contracts to divert unwanted attention away from the boardroom after a bad run of results and its always the top earners in that team that are mentioned.

I suppose the biggest disappointment is, looking at all our attacking players, only James can claim to have contributed enough. The only other player close to being good enough was Monkhouse, the only one out of them released.

Oh and as of now, every single player we have will be out of contract next year. Scary.

I'd love Pools to reach 100 years as a league club in 2020/21 season, but I have serious doubts about the club's ability to do this

Not because of cost cutting or budgets, but because Hodcroft is a clueless interfering twat who steps all over the manager's toes

Eventually his luck (and ours) will run out

I admire your optimism.

Recent history tells us though, that this wont happen, and we will get two or three new signings, and will probably be quite underwhelmed by them.

Unless I have misread something, only two players that will be on a wage worth discussing, have been released.

Releasing the other two will not create a battle fund for Cooper.

If the others that are still to be decided, decide to stay, that means the wages freed up by two released players, and maybe some of the reduced wages on 3-4 others, might, and only might, be released for signings.

I just cant see where you get the 6-7 signings from. Unless we are suddenly going to ignore the loveable FFP.

Had a text from a good sauce yesterday confirming the departure of Monkey and Walton (yes I appreciate this is on club website)

However he also said Austin has been offered a new contract on poor terms (don't think I have saw this mentioned). Sweeney is possibly on his way out but unsure

Stephen Pears has returned to the club in coaching capacity and replaces Jim Provett

you've forgot to take Howard's wage into consideration

Marlon Harewood?

I'm hearing Michael Brown's name being linked with us, contracts up at Leeds in July. Is he too old at 37?

A percentage of it yeah, but nowhere near the full amount

And you know that do you?

How?

Yes, god yes, what a horrible player.

Howard's contract was payed up, not all of it, but an agreed percentage, meaning his full wage wasn't available to be spent on anyone coming in.

A lot of teams that win regularly need a 'horrible player' or two I'd say it's something we've been missing for a number of years. Especially one who's as good a footballer as him.

He'll aways have my respect as if you look at his career in the 600 plus career appearances they've all been in the top two divisions for clubs as big as Man City and Spurs apart from 6 games for Hartlepool United who as a Premier League player he came and helped keep his home town club in the football league. So he'll never be a horrible player in my eyes. He's a lad from the Town who's had an excellent career.

I'm not saying the rumour is true or he'd even consider finishing his career in League Two but he's possibly exactly the type of character we need to help us win more matches.

Why the hell would he come here when he can get between £2-3k at Barnsley or Hibs but would struggle to get half this at Pools.

He's 37, have we not learnt our lesson from howard and solano?

I don't think he'd even come here he was in the Yorkshire Post yesterday saying he wants to play another year but not drop down the leagues.

I just don't think he's got a bad CV for a horrible player though or that just because he's 37 he couldn't be still good.

Ken would give him 2 years on 5k a week.

I will never watch Pools again, if Michael Brown signs.

That little shit signed my team, when he was 17, and attended our first training session on the sand dunes.

The 'lovely lovely person' then went and signed for someone else and let us down badly.

Never did forgive him.

I should maybe have mentioned that the other team he signed for was Manchester City.