Boss convinced star to leave Stockport for Pools
NEW boy Leon McSweeney today revealed his homework on Chris Turner convinced him to join Hartlepool United.
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."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 12 February 2012
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