By Albatross
July 1 2004

Darrell Clarke has agreed a new contract to keep him at Pools for another year, the club have announced. With Robinson's departure, all of last year's squad have either signed up or moved on. And Friday Night Football will return, with two home fixtures rearranged in the second half of the season. The announcement is hardly a shock - Clarke had been expected to sign up some time ago, and the former Mansfield player had given no indication of wanting to go elsewhere.

Clarke made 26 starts and 14 sub appearances in all competitions last season, but has had something of a mixed time at Pools. His first season at the Vic saw him struggling to find his best position - and a spell injured didn't help matters. Before long he was being employed on the right wing, and started weighing in with a few goals - he finished the season with eight, inluding a Hat-trick in the 7-1 demolition of Swansea. He was a regular in the side that won promotion, and still managed seven goals despite not scoring until after Christmas!

This season once again saw him mainly employed on the right, where he continued to frustrate by turning in onto his left foot much of the time. Despite this, and spells out of the side as Shuker filled the right midfield slot, he still notched another seven goals to take his senior total to 50.

With Jack Ross set to play on the right, Clarke may find opportunities more limited this season - although if we move to 3-5-2, he may have more chance or forcing himself into contention for a spot in the centre of midfield. His hard running and eye for goal may mean that in a midfield trio, he would be the player to surge forward and support the strikers. However, he may still find hmself on the bench more often than not - especially if Tony Sweeney continues where he left off.

Clarke's signature means that all of the players out of contract have now decided their fate, with Sweeney and Craddock staying and Paul Robinson going. It's now going to be a question of who Coops will look to bring in.

Elsewhere, former Pools Goalie Tony Williams has joined Grimsby on trial, and as expected the club will play a couple of Home Games on a Friday this season. The games with Peterborough in February and Sheffield Wednesday in April are the fixtures to be moved to the night before the original schedule.