Dave Challinor sums up a 'hectic week' at Hartlepool United following National League match reschedule and three new signings

Pools made three new signings ahead of Thursday’s player registration deadline as Brad James, Zaine Francis-Angol and Harvey Saunders joined until the end of the season.

But manager Dave Challinor admitted there were still a few tough calls to make as he looked to get all of his transfer boxes ticked while also managing a budget going into the final six games of the National League season.

“It’s been a pretty hectic week,” Challinor told The Mail. “Thursday was pretty manic in terms of getting things across the line as it normally is.

“We had a few in the pipeline and plates spinning and as things progress, you have to make a call in terms of getting certain deals done.

"It’s given us plenty of options and covered lots of eventualities that we potentially didn’t have covered. I think all three of the players we’ve brought in will be really good additions to the squad.”

Pools are currently 15 games unbeaten in the National League and have picked up 67 points from 36 games so far this season, the club’s best points return since being promoted from League Two in 2007.

They were set to host Weymouth at Victoria Park this weekend but the National League rescheduled the match to take place on the last game of the season on May 29.

“We had a bit of down time at the start of the week because we didn’t find out about the Weymouth game until Tuesday morning,” Challinor added.

"At that point, we had to bring the players in to train on Tuesday.

"We were going to be off Monday, Tuesday and train through the week until Friday but instead we moved things quickly and trained Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and gave the players Friday and the weekend off before we’re back at it Monday.”

Despite being without a game, there was no rest for Challinor this weekend as he went to watch Pools’ next opponents Chesterfield and his former striker Danny Rowe in action at Wrexham.

Hartlepool host The Spireites at Victoria Park live on BT Sport next Saturday (5:20pm kick-off).

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