By Albatross
March 26 2004

No transfers in or out for Hartlepool United on Deadline Day, although some of our Division 2 rivals were busy in the transfer market. Cooper has made plenty of moves during the season, and has no real reason to do a Mick Tait-style splurge and bring in half a dozen new faces. While there may not have been action directly involving Pools, one or two of our former players have been on the move and there have also been a few surprises involving our fellow teams in Division 2.

Most notably, Rushden have allowed no less than four of their big names to leave, with no-one coming in. This time last season they were bringing in Dean Holdsworth to boost their pursuit of Pools; yesterday, Paul Underwood left for Luton, Onandi Lowe moved to Coventry, Paul Hall to Tranmere and Marcus Bignot joined QPR - all on free transfers. Coupled with the recent departure of Brian Talbot for a theoretically worse off side in Oldham, and you get the feeling that they will struggle from now on - with a wage cap due to come into force next season and Max Griggs looking to scale down his involvment, it's looking suspiciously like they have reached their peak and will now struggle to avoid a headlong plummet.

Meanwhile Bristol City have re-signed Scott Murray - less than a year after they received £650K for him from Reading. His return on a free is therefore looking like a good bit of business on their part. Darren Caskey and Tony Rougier have also signed up at Ashton Gate after leaving Notts County and Brentford respectively.

Oldham have brought in several players on permanent and loan deals, while Wycombe have lost one of their star players ahead of their almost inevitable relegation - Jermaine McSporran has been allowed to leave for Walsall.

As seems almost inevitable, a number of players from the "Big Three" in the North-East have gone on loan to clubs other than HUFC. Neil Teggart joined Darlington from Sunderland earlier this month; Chris Black has left for Doncaster, while loan deals have also seen Michael Ingham join Wrexham and Craig James sign for Port Vale; Middlesbrough have sent Gary Smith on loan to Franchise FC in Milton Keynes (presumably as a warning of what might happen if he doesn't make it), and allowed Danny Graham to join Darlington in a similar deal; while Newcastle have allowed Richard Offiong to go on loan to York, Adam Collin similarly to Doncaster, and Chris Carr to Sheffield Wednesday permanently. Whether Pools would have wanted - or been offered - any of these is open to question...

What about former Poolies? Well, Lenny Johnrose has rejoined Burnley on a free from Swansea, but the one that's raised a few eyebrows is Simon Miotto joining West Brom. The Aussie Goalkeeper was last spotted at St. Johnstone, and has joined the Baggies to provide cover - something they have at times been so short of that they took Kevin Pressman on loan from Sheff Wed. Whether Miotto will progress beyond the bench at the Hawthornes remains to be seen.