This is what Dave Challinor said previously about a permanent move for Richie Bennett as striker is released from Stockport County

Hartlepool United loan star Richie Bennett is now a free agent following his release from Stockport County.
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The 30-year-old striker scored five goals in four games for Pools, including a hat-trick in a 7-2 win at Wealdstone back in April.

Bennett then returned to Stockport but couldn’t help them earn promotion via the play-offs as they were beaten 1-0 by his former loan side and eventual winners Hartlepool.

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The Hatters have now cancelled Bennett’s contract at Edgeley Park, leaving him free to find a new club.

Richie Bennett of Hartlepool United  celebrates after putting his side 2-0 up during the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Notts County at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 10th April 2021. (Credit: Chris Booth | MI News)Richie Bennett of Hartlepool United  celebrates after putting his side 2-0 up during the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Notts County at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 10th April 2021. (Credit: Chris Booth | MI News)
Richie Bennett of Hartlepool United celebrates after putting his side 2-0 up during the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Notts County at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 10th April 2021. (Credit: Chris Booth | MI News)

Despite Pools’ new League Two status, manager Dave Challinor has admitted a permanent return is ‘a non-starter’.

"Without speaking out of turn, people have asked about us doing Richie on a permanent, Richie is on more than double what any of our players earn,” Challinor told The Mail prior to Pools’ play-off success.

“There is no way we could ever afford to do things on a permanent basis with players like him. All of our loans this season, we’ve not paid more than 50-per-cent of a player’s wages so that has allowed us to get the players in that we’ve got in and in most cases, it’s a lot less than 50-per-cent.

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"When you talk permanent deals, there’s a lot of players who fall well outside of our budget and that will be the case in the summer.

"Without pre-empting stuff, it will probably be the case where we’ll lose some players in the summer because other teams can pay them more money than what we can.”

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