Hartlepool United manager admits Pools have held talks with former midfielder Gavan Holohan over possible return to Victoria Park
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits Pools have held talks with Gavan Holohan over a possible return to Victoria Park.
Pools, who have struggled for spark and creativity for large parts of the season, are on the hunt for some new additions in attacking areas and Featherstone admits the midfielder is one of a number of names under consideration.
The experienced Irishman was a hugely popular figure in the North East, scoring 21 times in 106 games. Indeed, the 34-year-old was an integral part of the side that won promotion back to the Football League via a heart-stopping National League play-off final under Dave Challinor, scoring eight goals in 44 matches. During that season, Holohan formed part of a hugely effective midfield three, which came to be known as the 'wolf pack', alongside Mark Shelton and current Pools boss Nicky Featherstone.
Having fallen down the pecking order after Challinor was replaced by Graeme Lee, the box-to-box midfielder signed for Grimsby, finding the net 16 times in 107 appearances. In 2022, Holohan won the National League play-offs for the second time, scoring a last-minute equaliser in the semi-finals against Notts County - the Mariners went on to win the game 2-1 in extra time - before starting in the final as the North East Lincolnshire outfit got the better of Solihull Moors.
The following season, Holohan starred as Grimsby reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1939, scoring two penalties as the Mariners edged past Southampton, then of the Premier League.
The midfielder signed for Crawley in the summer of 2024 but has struggled to settle in West Sussex, starting just 12 times.
According to BBC Radio Tees Sport presenter and commentator Rob Law, the veteran is understood to be keen on a return to Victoria Park but Pools could face stiff competition from a number of other interested parties, with a final decision still to be made on the midfielder's future.
"That's the profile of player that I'm looking to bring in - us as a club, definitely," Featherstone said.
"We've spoken to Gav, we're not very close on that. That's the type of profile we want to bring in; EFL pedigree, he knows the football club, he knows the area, but he's also got real qualities in going forward.
"If it's not Gav, then it's that profile of player. We're looking for some more attack-minded players, we're a bit short in that area in terms of goals. I think we've only got 32 goals in 28 games, that's not enough if you want to compete. The good thing is we're pretty solid at the back, which gives us half a chance.
"That type of profile of player would be lovely."