Notice that there's been no news on whether or not he or Walker have signed new contacts, but Pools posted some pics of training this morning and he is there.

Would people want him to sign on again next season? I personally feel he would be a decent squad player to keep on, provide cover for up front and out wide. Always puts a lot of effort in and his pace may be useful in this league.

Yes, I'd like to see Oates stay. He is a strong lad, able to hold players off very well - with a bit more nous could turn into a very useful player. I'd like to see him played down the middle more though.

He has all of the physical attributes but none of the mental ones.

Not fussed either way.

Agree with above. Find it a strange one that he is stalling, i cant see him believing a league club will be in for him unless he is hoping to be nearer home perhaps?

Would like to see him stay - good nuisance player to have on the bench, got goals in him. Sure CH will find use for him and probably bring him on as a player

He's on the training photos on website from today


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Bates appears to be part of the coaching set up by those pictures as well.

Is that the old training ground or the one that Jones moved us to?

Hopefully that's just temporary training kit. No Pools badge and some of then (including CH!) wearing Nike.

I would keep him I like his style effort and attitude.

Definitely keep him but as I keep saying, only if him (and everyone else) is played in their best positions. Obviously if injuries dictate otherwise then fair enough but we really need to stop trying to shoe horn people into positions that aren't their best.

Can't quite make out Walker on the photos, is he elsewhere today?

Ps it looks like the old training ground at maiden castle as I thought I saw an athletics track.

Yeh that's Maiden Castle where we used to train. Thank the lord for that. How could anyone think training at the Racecourse was a sound idea with no gym and no food?

I couldn't see Walker in any of the pictures from training. Would expect a statement from the club regarding Oates, even if it was just to say he is training to keep his fitness up but nothing has been finalised with a deal.

Does anybody know if it still just 5 substitutes in the conference?

Yes it's just 5 subs

But I thought they moved to that other place for training because it was more private and was nothing at all do to with saving money?

Oates is a grafter and always to puts a shift i for the team but he's not a great footballer. He has some physical attributes including a bit of pace which mean he can be a handful up front buts he's awful when he plays wide. He'll do a job helping out the full back but offers nothing in terms of attacking. 5 goals in 63 League appearances is one of the reasons I wouldn't be losing any sleep if he left, but he does have scope for improvement as a centre forward.

I'd keep Oates.

Whist I agree Oates is a grafter the fact he is still here shows there was certainly no rush from other clubs to sign him. Fact is he is coming up 23 and he was unable to get a regular place in one of the worst teams in the football league. Even on loan at Gateshead he was only making the bench.

Did anyone else know his middle name was Derek?

I think I want him to stay now I have found that out.

Your wish is granted, child.

Oates and Walker not good enough imo, may get by at this level, but need players who can do a job in league 2 should we go up, may as well of got rid now as next summer, as they have already proved they are not good enough at league 2 level. I hope they both prove me wrong.

Signed new deal- It's on the OS.

As Pools-on -Trent pointed out!

Signed a new deal apparently.

I gather he may have signed a new contract

Of course he signed. What other option had he? Hope he surprises me and becomes a hit.

Featherstone not in them training pictures?

No, today they were practising tackling.

Let it go, let it go etc etc

Chuffed he has signed I believe he is one player who can improve with the right coaching plus he has bags of the right attitude.

Think he is recovering from an op, exploratory looking for the forward button.

In Magnays interview on Poolsworld he says Harrison and Hawkins both returning today, but no mention of Walker or Featherstone. Can only assume they are both off

Walker is going to Lincoln and Feather is not.

Oates has to be worth keeping, he's a modern football with effort and bravery, seemingly rare qualities these days.

Glad he's signed.

I seen Oates in the Asda on Saturday.

He had the swagger of a man confident in using the self serv. he approached it with precision, didn't have a single item in his bagging area that shouldn't have been there.


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I normally get pissed off over repeated warnings of unknown items in my bagging area only to realise later on it's the little un leaning against it.

Tesco on the quayside has a no bagging area self serve. Revolutionary.