Dave Challinor drops hint about summer transfer plans and ideal Hartlepool United squad size

Pools are 12th in the National League and chasing a play-off spot, just four points off the top seven.

Challinor is having to contend with a possible late surge into the promotion picture while also keeping one eye on plans for the summer.

Asked about trying to find the right balance, Challinor said: "It can be difficult but on the flip side can be pretty easy because we’re still making judgements about where we want to be - we have an idea - but it almost in terms of recruitment becomes a live document.

"The players have a chance to put a run together and if between now and the end of the season, if the group that we've got can achieve the target that we want to, then you'll be looking at it and going 'Why do we need to make loads of changes?'

"I don't think we need to make masses and masses, we need to keep trying to develop what we have been working on for the past few months and have the right personnel to be able to do that and give us enough flexibility within our squad to be able to change our system at times.

"We don’t have the luxury of a 25-player squad and moving forward my plan is to run with a smaller squad than what we've had, to give us a togetherness in the group, complimented with loans that can be a bit reactive where you may need to change things.

"Rather than go all in and fill your squad out and have no budget left to potentially give you that adaptability."

Pools, who had a free weekend last week thanks to Storm Dennis, host Notts County on Saturday.

Challinor added: "There’s no one at the club at the moment who I know for certain wouldn’t sign a new deal.

"Everyone will have decisions to make and we’ll have decisions to make as a club."