Lee Clark has transfer message for Hartlepool United fans and reacts to Halifax Town loss
Lee Clark has a transfer message for Hartlepool United fans.
Lee Clark has confirmed there won’t be any more signings for Hartlepool United as the transfer budget has been spent.
The Pools boss was speaking in the aftermath of another defeat for Pools, it is now three defeats on the spin with a 1-0 loss away at Halifax Town.
Pools were backed by an impressive away following of 650 fans but it was another disappointing defeat for Pools and head coach Clark. Pools had started the season well with back-to-back wins over Barrow and Aldershot Town but since then they have been beaten by Sutton United, Eastleigh and now Halifax Town.
The visitors came close to opening the scoring nine minutes before the break when Jordan Hugill saw an effort hit the crossbar. Halifax broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half as Zak Gilsenan played a ball into the box and Will Hugill was on hand to send a powerful strike into the back of the net. Hartlepool pushed forward in an attempt to equalise, but True Grant denied Jay Benn and Jack Nolan as Halifax hung on to all three points.
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Reacting to the defeat, Clark told Red Radio: “We're disappointed with the goal we've conceded, there is stuff to look on. We've got to get back to winning ways. It's a horrible feeling losing football matches. We lost three on the spin, so we've got to turn it around.”
Off the pitch, it has been a remarkably busy summer at Pools with 13 players released and 14 brought in, a complete summer squad overhaul with Clark also replacing Nicky Featherstone in the dugout. The summer rebuild kicked off with the signing of experienced striker Jordan Hugill and further attacking additions followed in the shape of Will Harris, Chris Popov, Terry Bondo and Jack Nolan.
The defensive ranks have been strengthened with a permanent deal for former loan signing Cameron John and the arrivals of Liam Gibson, Neo Eccleston and the highly-rated Charlie Penman and Owen Hampson - currently out injured. Other signings included former Spennymoor Town man Corey McKeown and Brooklyn Ilunga and goalkeeper Max Merrick.
And on the transfer front, Clark admitted there won’t be any further new signings. He told Red Radio: “We spent the budget wisely, there's no more money, there's no more money. I should have probably made this clearer a couple of weeks ago. So if I wanted to bring anybody in, there's not the funds. “We've done the budget that was set by the owner, which was really good, and that's been spent up on the group that we have now.”
Pools host Woking at The Vic on Saturday afternoon.