Craig Hignett won't wait forever on Hartlepool United out-of-contract stars

The Pools boss says he is in “dialogue” with four out-of-contract players, Rakish Bingham, Michael Duckworth, Rob Jones and Michael Woods, having released a fifth, Dan Jones, this week.

Bingham, from the east end of London, could be about to return south, while there are rumours that the two Michaels, Duckworth and Woods, are attracting interest from League One clubs.

“We are in dialogue with a few of them,” said Hignett. “There are things happening with one or two of them, so that will come out in the wash.

“But we have offered contracts to a couple of them and we are hoping they will come back positive. We’ll just have to wait and see and hopefully they will be resolved in the next week.

“I’m not prepared to wait any longer than a week. Once that’s gone, I’ll move on and get on with other stuff.”

Hignett said the departure of Dan Jones might benefit the player.

“Dan has been at the club a long time,” he said.

“The time has come for him to move on – he needs a fresh challenge and I’ve said that to him.

“It might be the best thing that’s happened to him because Dan has got everything, but, for one reason or another, it hasn’t really clicked for him.”