Craig Harrison opens up on the decision to block Hartlepool United midfielder Michael Woods' deadline day exit

And the fact no one put their money where their mouth is to land Pools’ top-scorer was also a massive factor in him remaining.

It looked as though Woods was set to depart the club in the closing stages of the winter window, with the likes of Stevenage really pushing to hand the player a return to the Football League.

But with no cash offer on the table, only deals which would see no fee exchange hands, to purely take Woods off the wage bill, Pools knocked back any advances.

On deadline day morning Woods had a meeting with the club’s hierarchy and was told the news that he would be staying at Victoria Park until the end of the season, when his current contract ends.

Harrison says Woods was just too valuable to let go for nothing.

“Keeping Woodsy was important,” said the manager.

“He’s our top scorer, so losing him as well as Franksy [Jonathan Franks] then it’s two top scorers taken away.

“We didn’t want that.

“If the club had coughed some money up for Woodsy or any player, then it would have been out of our hands anyway.

“We are happy that no one did offer money.”

Woods was not the only player who attracted interest at the end of the window.

Nicky Deverdics was allowed to sign for Wrexham, after the promotion-chasing Welsh outfit offered £10,000 up front to boost Pools’ creaking coffers, while Connor Simpson raked in an impressive £50,000 from Preston, again paid in full up front.

Youngster Jack Blackford left on a free, as did Tomi Adeloye, Keith Watson’s loan ended and Franks left to take up a deal with Deverdics at Wrexham.

Blair Adams was interesting Barnet in League Two, while five others, according to Harrison, could have left.

“Six or seven players were being eyed up, but no-one coughed up for them,” he said.

“The players know the situation, they know what’s going on. Let’s be realistic, I’m sure it’s been on everyone’s mind. Put myself in their situation and I understand it, but they are contracted here and we need them.

“If we let them all go who had interest in them, then we had six or seven senior pros left and struggled to fulfil fixtures.

“We managed to keep hold of them and we have enough to start winning games again.”

Pools’ trip to Barrow was called off on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch, and as yet no date has been set for the rearranged fixture.

“Once we get a win, a clean sheet, then the penny drops and confidence comes back,” Harrison said of the weeks ahead.

“We haven’t been doing as well as we should be, but scoring goals and being in front in games shows we are doing something right.

“How do we win our next game? A clean sheet would be good.

“We have struggled as a team to keep them out. We have scored plenty, but conceded plenty too.

“In my mind it’s a mental thing on a personal and collective level.”