Hartlepool United eye move for out-of-contract full-back

The Mail has learned that Pools’ boss Matthew Bates is considering making a move for the Welshman, having allowed Blair Adams to depart.

Barrow scored three goals for Heed last season, two of which came in one game against Pools.

The 29-year-old smashed home to almost identical crackers in the entertaining 2-2 draw at the International Stadium on Boxing Day last year, a game which 10-man Pools rescued a point thanks to a late Michael Woods strike.

And although Pools are yet to open talks with Barrow, due mainly to the situation at up-for-sale Gateshead, he is a player who Bates and director of football Craig Hignett are understood to rate.

Barrow was one of the stand out players in the club’s run to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, making 36 appearances for Heed in 2017/18 and was named both the players’ and supporters’ player of the season.

Uncertainty reigns supreme at Gateshead this summer, with the club desperately seeking investors and potentially facing up to the prospect of going part-time, should no cash-rich money man, able to write of losses season-on-season, come to the fore.

As a result, the club are yet to release a retained list with the future of Steve Watson’s squad looking less and less certain.

Barrow, at this stage, is understood to be awaiting the club’s fate before deciding his own future, but the Mail has learned the deal he signed last summer was a straight one-year contract, with no extension option.

Reflecting back on the season that was with Gateshead’s club website, Barrow flagged up his goals against Pools as of the campaign highlights, as well as addressing his own immediate future.

“I played in the Southern Premier last season which was not where I wanted to be,” said Barrow.

“I got the chance to come to Gateshead - a lot of the fans didn’t know who I was at the start of the season, but I let the football do the talking and I think I have scored some great goals.

“I never score tap-ins it always seems to be worldies.

“Scoring two goals against Hartlepool and the wonder strike against Bromley were the highlights of the season for me.

“We will see what happens for me in the next few weeks.”

Pools leapfrogged Gateshead in the final weeks of the campaign, and Barrow has hinted he is keen to be operating much higher up the National League next season.

“We wanted a mid-table finish but we couldn’t do it. We should be a lot higher up the table,” he said.

“But the FA Trophy run will live long in the memory. We should be proud of ourselves.

“I want another crack at getting promotion.”

Barrow is a former Wales non-league international, who started his career at hometown club Swansea City.

Having been released by the Swans Barrow joined Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town then Tamworth before getting his break at League Two side Newport Town in 2015.