McSweeney's six-week wait to meet up with his new team-mates finally came to an end on Wednesday when the Pools squad returned to pre-season training.

It also provided the chance for the 26-year-old to see whether the glowing reports given to him on Pools director of sport Turner were accurate.

The right winger agreed to join Turner's side on a free-transfer back in May after becoming disillusioned at the regime of now-departed Jim Gannon at former club Stockport County.

Pools quickly moved to the front of the queue for the Irishman after McSweeney spoke to staff at Edgeley Park – where Turner and assistant Colin West spent two years at the helm.

McSweeney said: "My main thing was getting away from the manager (Gannon). I wouldn't say a bad word about Stockport County as a club because it's a fantastic club.

"But I had my ups and downs with the manager, more downs than ups to be fair.

"I've done my homework on Chris so I know for a fact that I'm with a good footballing manager that will give me the respect I need and I'll repay him two-fold.

"The whole club spoke well of him, even people behind the scenes.

"Rodger Wylde is the physio down there and Chris was best man at his wedding so it's a glowing report I got from him.

"From what I've heard, if you do right by him, then he'll look after you."

He added: "I had a few League One clubs interested and several League Two clubs as well and a bit from back home.

"But if I went back home it would be a step backwards and I wanted to move forwards.

"Chris sold the club to me, told me the ambition of the club and what he wanted and I want to be part of it."