Exclusive: Midfielder set for Hartlepool United axe

Munns has been a fringe player at Pools since the day he signed a lucrative two-year deal at Victoria Park last summer.

And with NO offers coming in for the transfer listed 24-year-old, who has a year left on his deal, Pools have decided to cut their losses.

With budgets tight at the Vic this summer it's an unprecedented move in paying up the former Cheltenham Town player's final year, but that appears to show just how far Munns has fallen down the pecking order.

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Munns is understood to be one of the higher earners at the club, hence why Pools were keen to get the player off their wage bill.

But having played just 18 games last season, and with Munns not likely to be a part of Bates' plans for the new National League season having failed to feature so far this pre-season, there were no takers.

Spennymoor 0 Hartlepool 1: Luke James' strike sees Pools stroll to another friendly winMunns time at Pools has been blighted by injury problems. He was even forced to go under the knife last season to remove a benign tumour from his mouth.

The player's release is expected to be confirmed by Pools this week.

Munns started just five games for Pools last campaign, making a further 13 appearances off the bench under Craig Harrison and Bates.

His last Pools showing came in the 1-1 home draw with Torquay on April 21.