Monky - new deal

By Clarence Rode
May 19 2009

Hartlepool have signed another winger, but look like losing a third as the close-season game of musical chairs continues at Victoria Park. Andy Monkhouse has agreed a new deal after the expiry of his contract, but Matty Robson has turned down the club’s offer and looks as if he is heading for Swindon  a new club.

Manager/caretaker manager/director of sport/director of football/coach Chris Turner regards the Monkhouse deal as a big boost as he continues the close-season rebuilding programme he promised.
Rarely has a close-season started with so much contract and transfer activity as this one, and Turner says there is a lot more to come.
Robson’s (right) refusal of a new deal won’t break too many hearts because he has not been the most consistent of players, though that could be said of many players – including Monkhouse – last season.
He is set to line up on the left, with Leon McSweeney favourite to start wide on the right after signing from Stockport County, so there was little scope for Matty to start the season as a first-choice player.
Michael Nelson and Gary Liddle have yet to respond to the club’s offer of new deals, but Monky’s decision means Turner has three out of four midfield players lined up, unless he plans to play 4-3-3 with Adam Boyd, James Brown and the League One 2009 equivalent of Alan Shearer or Peter Crouch.
Richie Humphreys will also hopefully be regarded as a midfield player rather than as a left-back in the new season, and we are still waiting for new on whether Willie Boland will be fit enough to continue his career.
Meanwhile, news of two new full-backs and a goalkeeper or two is awaited. The attack looks promising, but CT needs to do a bit on the defence yet.