Hartlepool United still hoping to secure Joe Grey to a professional deal as uncertainty looms over youth set-up

Hartlepool United forward Joe Grey is still yet to sign his first professional contract at the club as the future of the club’s youth set-up grows increasingly uncertain.
Dave Challinor is hoping to tie down young forward Joe Grey.Dave Challinor is hoping to tie down young forward Joe Grey.
Dave Challinor is hoping to tie down young forward Joe Grey.

Grey was offered a professional contract by Pools shortly after his 17th birthday back in May.

Almost two months on and the club are still unable to confirm any deals as their stance remains that no deals will be concluded until they are made aware of a clear restart date for football.

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Deals have still been agreed in principle with Gary Liddle and Timi Odusina liklely to return to the club along with fellow defender Aaron Cunningham once contract start dates can be established.

While Grey is yet to agree his first pro-deal at Pools, he remains on a scholarship contract that would keep him at Victoria Park.

It also means Pools would be eligible for compensation should another club approach to sign the player.

And manager Dave Challinor confirmed there is interest, as he told The Mail: “Joe is still on his scholarship contract so we've had conversations with his agent and there’s some uncertainty about how the youth aspect of the club will run next year moving forward.

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“There has been some external interest in Joe but he has signed a two-year scholarship contract so if someone was interested in taking him then there would be a compensation figure to pay or it would go to a tribunal.

“Joe is one who we’ll hopefully keep but it’s a situation that’s constantly moving and there’s nothing more to update than that.”

The teenager impressed Challinor in the Durham Challenge Cup and made the first-team bench for the FA Cup ties against Exeter City and Oxford United last season.

But with the club’s youth set-up set to undergo significant changes, Pools ability to attract and keep promising young players is likely to dwindle.

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Drastic budget cuts to combat the financial impact of the coronavirus lockdown mean that United’s youth players are unlikely to be paid – should the programme continue.

Challinor added that the future of the club’s academy is something he’s hoping to tie down ‘in the next week or two’.