Fantastic time to support Hartlepool United says chairman Gary Coxall

Chairman Gary Coxall speaking at the Hartlepool United player of the Year awards night. Picture by FRANK REID

The chairman was addressing the Pools faithful at the annual awards evening at the Grand Hotel last night.

Coxall said that owners, JPNG, had big plans for the club they bought from IOR last June.

“There will be a lot of exciting things happening over the summer,” he told a packed audience. “There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes.

“We have a lot of plans for next season and beyond.

“It will be a good season – I have total trust in Craig Hignett, the coaching staff and players. It is a fantastic time to support Hartlepool United.”

Pools have already started to build for the 2016-17 campaign by agreeing new contracts with a number of key players, including Trevor Carson, Lewis Hawkins and Nicky Featherstone.

But Pools have also released three players – Ebby Nelson-Addy, Peter Denton and Kudus Oyenuga.

Aston Villa product Nelson-Addy made three appearances, with just one start, while forward Oyenuga has not featured in the squad since being an unused sub in the 1-0 win over Wycombe in mid-January.

The ex-Spurs player made nine appearances, scoring twice, in back-to-back wins over Leyton Orient and Cheltenham.

Teenage keeper Denton was on the bench for the opening 13 matches of the season but saw no action.