By Albatross
April 10 2003

Hartlepool United have announced the release of five players today. Gordon Simms will not be offered a new deal; and final-year scholars Colin McKenzie, Marc Batey, Stephen Flockett and Stephen Manson will not be offered pro contracts. Is this a sign of the decks being cleared for new players? Of the five released, none have been exactly unexpected; but it's the departure of Simms that will raise one or two eyebrows. He's been a regular for the Northern Ireland u21 team, and when he has made one of his rare appearances for the first team he hasn't let anyone down.

He arrived from Wolves in March 2001, and celebrated his call-up to the international scene shortly after. However, his first start didn't come until September 2001, when he replaced Spike. In the previous game, Lee had been injured and Simms had come on as an early sub. He started a few games then, but the move to 4-4-2 meant more players after fewer positions and he didn't appear at all after December. This season, he has made just two appearances - one as a late sub against Lincoln at the Vic, and one start in the LDV at Tranmere.

Simms hadn't performed well enough in the reserves to displace the Lee/Westwood partnership, and with Barron moving across when Spike was suspended it looked ominous for the youngster: and more so when James Sharp made the bench ahead of him.

The question does arise though of whether Newell has other players lined up for the role. Barron and Westwood have agreed new deals, but Spike hasn't yet - and it looks likely that James Sharp will also be leaving at the end of his current deal. We would need someone else - if only as cover - even if Lee decides to stay at the club. Watch this space.....

As far as the others go - all four have appeared regularly for the youth team and also played for the reserves, but with belts being tightened all over the Football League there's not a lot of lattitude for players to be given an extra year as a pro, in the hope that they might develop. It's a sad day for the lads, but if nothing else they will have the knowledge that they played a part in a piece of Poolie Folklore: all were involved in the Youth Cup tie at Old Trafford last season, with Manson hitting the first goal and McKenzie the equaliser.

Of the quartet, only McKenzie had made any sort of impact on the first team; he played in the LDV game earlier this season for his only senior appearance.

The next question is, who else will be going come the end of the season. Some names look certainties, others less so - but something tells me there's going to be a surprise or two in store.