Oldham target Michael Woods will stay at Hartlepool United says boss Craig Hignett

The midfielder, believed to be a target of Oldham Athletic, has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.

But his manager is not concerned and believes news that he is NOT going to Blackburn Rovers will keep him at Victoria Park.

“I think Woodsy is away on holiday at the moment,” Hignett said. “When he comes back, I think he’ll come in and sign. He’s been great with me, he’s been totally honest.

“When there was that stuff in the press about Blackburn, he asked me if I was going. I said I wasn’t and, as far I was concerned there was nothing in it.

“Woodsy said that he’d wait til that vacancy was filled - obviously he didn’t believe me!

“Now it has been filled (by Owen Coyle) I hope to see him come in and sign.”

Woods has not been the only player, it seems, to register his concern about the manager.

“I had a couple of texts after the Blackburn story broke,” said the 46-year-old.

“It was stuff like ‘I hope it isn’t true’ and it’s nice to get something like that.

“It’s good to know they are enjoying what they are doing.

“It shows we must be doing something right.”