Hartlepool United released nine players last week and listed another two for transfer, making an already hectic summer for new manager Darren Sarll even busier.
Here are six players Pools might acquire to boost their team.
1. Luke Hendrie
Pools will know exactly what they’re getting with Hendrie, whose loan spell at Suit Direct last season was his third in the North East. His assets are dependability and adaptability, but a lack of pace and energy, as well as an abundance of right-backs at the club, may force Hendrie, who has been released by Bradford, to search elsewhere.
2. Lewis Cass
Cass excelled while on loan at Pools in the 2020/21 season, making 34 league games as Dave Challinor’s team won promotion back to the Football League. He impressed enough during two consecutive loan spells at Vale Park to win a permanent move, but injuries have hampered his progress since then. He rejoined Challinor for a loan spell at Stockport in the second half of the season, where he impressed before returning to Burslem. Now 24, a return to the North East could appeal to the versatile defender, but it will depend on whether or not he is in Vale manager Darren Moore’s plans.
3. Ben Tozer
The hugely experienced central defense helped Wrexham win promotion from the National League in the 2022/23 season, earning a spot on the season’s best team. He is arguably best renowned for his long throw, which is a weapon that Pools do not have but that many other teams would like to have; with new manager Sarll promising a more robust style of play, he may likely look to someone like Tozer to transform Pools’ throws. He made 35 games in League Two in a Wrexham side that won promotion, indicating that he could like another move to the Football League.
4. Harry Pell
Pell, 32, may not be the best option for adding legs to the Pools midfield, but he might provide some much-needed height. The feisty midfielder will leave Wimbledon this summer after making 26 League Two appearances last season. He has extensive Football League experience, having helped Cheltenham win the National League title in 2016 and being named team of the year. He’ll need someone dynamic and eager to join him, but there’s no doubt Pell still has a lot to contribute in the engine room.
5. George McEachran
Pools are looking for a midfielder with a decent engine and could turn to McEachran after his release from Swindon. He made 42 appearances for the Robins this season and, at 23, still has a lot of untapped potential and should be full of energy. Pools would have to entice him up north for the first time in his career, but two loan periods in Holland suggest he isn’t scared to make a bold move.
8. Otis Khan
There’s no denying the Pakistan international was a big gamble, but he shone on his Pools debut in January before being sidelined for the rest of the season due to an injury. The 28-year-old has struggled with fitness throughout his career, but Pools need some talent out wide, and if he can avoid injuries, Khan may be the guy to offer it.
