Hartlepool fined £25k over transfer dealings - while Russ Green slapped with a one-year ban

Pools faced six charges relating to the involvement of agents in the transfers that brought Nicky Deverdics, Padraig Amond and Lewis Alessandra to Victoria Park.

READ: More details on the charges faced by Hartlepool United

The club denied four charges and accepted two, but all were found to be proven by an Independent Regulatory Commission.

It was alleged that Pools disguised payments to agents as scouting fees and did not properly complete transfer paperwork to indicate that intermediaries had been involved in the deals for Amond and Alessandra.

In the case of the Deverdics transfer, Pools were charged with "concealing or misrepresenting the reality and/or substance of matters relating to the transaction" - and it was the charges relating to this deal that they admitted.

All of the signings were completed in the summer of 2016, but Pools were only faced with the charges earlier this year.

The club have confirmed they respected the process laid out by the FA, although the sanction is 'tough to take' given that the deals were overseen by a previous regime.

But despite the large fine imposed upon them, Pools say that the decision will have no impact on their preparations for the new season which have already seen some eye-catching signings completed.

Indeed, the club are keen to move on from such issues and look ahead to a brighter future.

A club statement read: "Whilst this sanction is really tough to take bearing in mind that the breaches of regulations occurred under a previous regime, the Club fully respects the process which has been completed by The FA."

"To make it clear, all paperwork including the denial of charges was submitted prior to the change in ownership and it is to our regret that we had no control over proceedings.

"We will take some time to consider the written details of the decision but would like to reassure the fans that this decision, whilst making us angry, will have no impact whatsoever on our ongoing recruitment drive or on the running of the Club.

"Chairman Raj Singh and Club President Jeff Stelling have already committed significant funds in order to clear up the many issues that we inherited and this will be added to that list.

"We are looking forward to finalising the clearing of all old issues and concentrating fully on building a very positive future for Pools and working to reward all supporters for their loyalty and commitment.

"Once again, we would like to thank all supporters for their fantastic backing and all we ask is that you continue to get behind us so that together we can build a Club we can all be proud of."

All of the previously transfers were completed by a previous regime at Pools, and former chief executive Russ Green has been slapped with a hefty punishment.

Green, now chief executive of Rochdale, has been handed a one-year ban from all football related activities - ending on June 30, 2019.

The former Pools chief executive admitted all of the charges levied against him, and has also been fined £10,000.

In a club statement, Rochdale said: "The implications of the FA’s decision are now being considered by the club. We will not be making any further comment."