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Introduction
Another season over then and already its time to look back
at the events of the last twelve months. Progress was the
aim and avoiding another relegation battle was the minimum
target for Chris Turner with anything else being a bonus.
Pool entered the close season as favourites for relegation
to the Vauxhall conference. After escaping the dreaded drop
by just three points last season. Few of the so called experts
would predict anything better than another season of struggle
for Pool. Chris Turner had worked a minor miracle bringing
in the right players and motivating the squad he inherited
enough to avoid the drop. Now he sent off on his first season
in charge of Pool and with the backing of the clubs owners
Increased Oil Recovery, Turner knew he needed to rebuild in
order to progress.
July
Out of the club went Paul Baker, Peter Beardsley, Stuart Irvine,
Stuart Brightwell, Graham Stokoe, David Rush, Paul Moss and
Darren Timmons. Turners first dip into the transfer market
to capture the signature of former Morpeth Town striker Kevin
Henderson who was with Burnley. Henderson signed a two year
contract and cost Pool nothing. Having played alongside Jon
Cullen in the Morpeth side, Henderson watched on as Cullen
made the move to Pool and became an instant hit. A £250,000
move to Sheffield United soon followed. Henderson was later
picked up by Burnley for £100,000 but struggled under
a number of managers. Henderson scored a couple of goals for
the Clarets, but his chances were limited to appearances from
the substitute bench. Chris Turner approached Burnley and
Henderson, and the North East born striker jumped at the chance
of a new start and a return to his native homeland.
With pre-season friendlies (capitals - Home game) including
Billingham Town, MIDDLESBROUGH, FALKIRK, Morpeth Town, SHEFFIELD
WEDNESDAY, Hebburn, Oswestry Town and Telford lined up, Pools
summer was starting to take shape. Turner approached Chesterfield
with the aim of signing Chris Perkins, a left back available
on a Bosman free transfer. The negotiations took place and
Turner got his second signing of the summer wrapped up. Perkins
made 40 appearances for second division Chesterfield the previous
season and had been tracked by Turner for sometime. Turner
said "I'm delighted to sign him, he is a player I have wanted
for a long time. Chesterfield wanted to keep him because he
has been a regular there but he really wants to come here.
We had talks but I have been waiting for him to return from
holiday. Signing Chris gives me some options and that means
Ian Clark can play on the left wing with Chris behind him.''
The potential signing of the decade though was still very
much in the balance. Pool were after the mercurial Jan Ove
Pedersen again. Although Turner was not at the club during
Pedersen stay, Pools owners IOR had told Turner all about
him, and the Pool boss watched numerous videos and travelled
to Norway on several occasions to see the little magician
in action. Talks with Jan Ove agent appear to be going reasonable
well. Originally it was thought that Pool would have to wait
until Jan's contract expired in October, to bring the talented
midfield star back to the North East. However reports in the
press suggest that Pedersen's club Brann Bergen were suffering
from a cash flow problem and may sell Jan for as little as
£50,000 to ease their financial position. If Pool were to
capture Pedersen to add to the recent signs of Strodder, Jones,
Freestone, Henderson and Perkins who all came from second
division clubs, recently released betting odds of between
33-1 and 66-1 for Pool to take the championship will start
to look very tempting indeed.
The night of Pools first friendly at Billingham Town, Turner
lined up a trialist to add strength in depth to his Pool squad.
Dutchman Arend Regeer 24 years old, available on a Bosman
ruling free transfer from Dutch first division club Telstar.
Regeer played for his countries Under 19 side and was 6 feet
and 1 inch on the old tape measure. Chris Turner said "He
is typical Dutch player with strong passing skills and good
technique. I am looking to strengthen the central midfield
area and hopefully he can fit the bill. There may be a lot
of foreign players flooding the league at the moment and although
it may be affecting our game, you cannot go around with your
eyes shut. If there is a player who will add quality to your
side then I will have no hesitation in looking at him, whether
he is foreign or English. But he has got to be better than
what I can get here and should improve the team. Arend has
been recommended to me and I will have a close look at him
over the next two weeks. He is very keen to play here and
now has the chance to show what he can do". There's always
an added air of optimism when a foreigner joins the club,
will he be the next Jan Ove?
Pool beat Billingham Town 4-0 with goals from Chris Freestone,
Gus Di Lella, Denny Ingram and a debut goal in his debut game
for Mr Kevin Henderson. Then Gazza and the Boro came to town
and left Victoria Park with a 2-0 win and finally for the
moment a virtual Pool second string in terms of firepower
lost 2-1 to Falkirk at the Vic. Not an ideal start to pre-season,
but Turners plan were very much at and early stage. Again
another Pool reserve team took to the field for the game with
Morpeth Town. 2-0 at half time, 4-2 at the death. Goals from
Andy Hay (2), Micky Dunwell and one for a trailist from Lincoln
called James Bridges. Next friendly up was the home match
with Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls sent up a mixture of players
with first team experience and youth/reserve team players.
Pool ran out easy winners 4-1 win two goals a piece for Gary
Jones and Chris Freestone. Barmy Army Online were are ya!?
Away to Hebburn a young Pools side picked up a 0-1 win with
Micky Dunwell collecting his second pre-season goal. And finally
all 19 first teamers got a game at Oswestry Town and cruised
to a 2-7 victory. Goals for Gary Jones(2), Kevin Henderson(2),
Craig Midgley(2) and one for Chris Freestone. Pool released
the first picture of their new strip. A broader blue and white
strip design, but not radically different to last seasons
strip. The Pedersen deal was still very much in the balance.
The last instalment seemed to be Brann indicating they would
be offering Jan an improved deal from the earlier one he turned
down. Pools final away pre-season friendly saw a 3-2 win at
Telford with the goals coming from Gus Di Lella, Gary Jones
and Chris Westwood.
The story continues............August.
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