I'm still waiting. Is there any reason why this hasn't been released yet? other than the fact that we have got no one at the club qualified or credible enough to do it.

How the hell can we prepare for next season and hit the ground running. Some clubs are announcing their retained lists already, signing players and organising pre season fixture schedule.

HUFC as usual will be picking up the scraps , getting the players no one else wants in late July, and frantically ringing around clubs trying to arrange last minute friendlies , and will end up with the usual guano, a raft of meaningless games at the likes of Billingham and Dunston followed by the big one Scunthorpe at home, though they may think they are above playing us now. Wonder if Salford will be kind enough to give us a game this season? .Why is it, Pools can never attract a club like Everton or Liverpool to the Vic? like some others can, an inbuilt inferiority complex perhaps.

What a farce

The days of getting a big Premier League club pre season are almost gone, for one they all charge a massive fee for the honour of them visiting secondly pre season for them these days is generally spent half way around the World playing in PR tournaments in the Far East or US. Apart from the financial benefit (which is negligible because of fees) those games are useless anyway apart from a fitness point of view, 90 minutes chasing the ball and getting rings ran around you. We'll probably play Sunderland and the Boro again, but a game against Scunthorpe or Rochdale is probably far more useful in terms of preparation.

You'd expect the retained list today or tomorrow surely? I'd imagine the players were off yesterday to let the dust settle. We heard on Saturday that the retained list is being done largely off Dave Jones recommendation before he left which I find hard to believe.

Neil Maddison alluded to this on tees last night

We need to get this stuff right to hit the ground running.

New manager. New players. Get rid of the Shite.

I actually seen someone write on another place that we need to keep this team together. He must be on drugs


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After Adam Bartlett claimed he had 18 months on his contract I would be surprised if there was a retain list as most will still be under contract. Maybe the young ones green, nearey will be released. It's all rosey now come on join the fun season tickets still at the same prices for the same product.

It's not drugs it's called blind loyalty it's how the chairman, the players and the management have con there way through the season.

Another snippet from Saturday, Bates and Jones had a massive row after Luton away which culminated in Jones telling Bates he'd never play the club again and he's gone in the summer to which Bates retorted he'll have a job releasing him as he had another year on his contract. Again, I'd find that hard to believe I'm just repeating stuff doing the rounds so as Mr Pittington is saying it's possibly less players are out of contract than we think.

Jones had Bates lined up to look after the youths next season so yup it is hard to believe.

Don't forget to get out canvassing n keep this momentum going


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A team of arses and elbows then, cos Jones couldn't tell one from the other.

Bates nearly went to york in january as a coach. Not sure if he has a year left or not.

Don't we have a director of recruitment or something, I expect he is earning his pieces of silver now.

Effin' twat.

Am I right in thinking players are generally contracted till the middle of summer?

If so, I doubt a retained list is at the top of anyone's agenda just now. There's no chairman or manager, a ton of debt to deal with and the implications of dropping down to the National League to consider properly - presumably it's the end of the academy set up, for starters.

The OS is saying as little as possible about anything and that might continue for quite a while - or it might not! Fans obsessing about who stays, who goes from the playing staff might be missing the bigger picture - or more likely blanking it out because it's too depressing to contemplate.

Reading today's Fail it seems clear Matty Bates' contract does run for another 12 months.

I doubt he'll fancy playing in the National League though - moving him to a coaching role at some level is definitely an option.

Bates is only just turned 30 (believe it or not!) he's not going to want to retire at that age.

That was the game Bates went off injured after about 15 minutes.

Think he's happier coaching now.

Bates does have another year on his contract. Suppose it could be a player/coach or player/manager next season, I guess.

If Bates is on the pitch next season, I won't be on the terraces. Sorry , but this bloke epitomises the modern day footballer, money has come too easy to him. Mentally packed in the game 5 years ago and thought he could coast it for 10 years or so, more interested in investing in a bar at the age of 27 , than pulling his puddings out for a local lower division football team and leave a football legacy. This type of player is a million miles away from my all time favourite player John McPhail, who never wanted to retire, physically or mentally.

Bates is a bloke who, at 30, has had so many devastating injuries it is amazing he still has a career at any level. Footballers careers are so short can you blame him for investing in his business and wanting a back up option if it all goes tits up for him again?

Well he's under contract as are Featherstone and Woods!

To be fair, he has had an injury ridden career, but what you say about it been amazing about him having a career at any level about sums it up, Pools signed a crock, probably all they could afford , and Bates would of been quite happy to take a pay cut, knowing the club would only get 20 games a season out of him

A certain 29 yo retiree did pretty well in the field of management. .

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He's played about 90 games in three seasons and probably been available for more he certainly was available to play for the last couple of months and only featured once. We've probably had more injury prone players.

Possibly, but not many more happy to be injured. He has proved this last 2 games, couldn't be ars*d to get involved

He just has a kite about the same size of mine and I'm knocking on 43 years of age and haven't really been able to exercise for 6 months because of a bad back.

What I would say about Bates is that you can see his obvious quality as a footballer in terms of reading the game etc, he's just not physically capable of playing week in week out these days

It's fair to say when he misses a few games he enjoys his time off.

So here's what's going to happen. Bates wants to play a bit longer, probably won't get another club now what with his injury record.

Offer him £500 a week so the Head of recruiting loves that. Pammy likes this too.

Bates thinks "fuck it, I'll sign and have a month or 3 off with me old knees" happy days for all

Obviously except us fans who hope we'll assemble a squad able to get out of the National League

I remember we signed another crock a few years ago, Watson I presume?

Watson wanted to play though, totally different attitude, as was McPhail. There is no doubt Bates could do it if he wanted to, but he has switched off mentally, and not prepared to push himself. Not saying this is wrong, its up to him, but rather he took that attitude somewhere else.

only players with contracts are Harrison amond Richardson rest all run out june 1st

and three youth players signed pro contracts Ryan Catterick, Aaron Cunningham, Josh Hawkes

Carson and Thomas both signed 'long term' contracts last summer. Everyone in our squad was given some form of new contact or extension by Hignett so I'll be amazed if more aren't still under contract