Waghorn - cost £2m

By Charlie Summerbell
July 3 2012

Hartlepool United fans are growing anxious over the apparent lack of transfer activity at Victoria Park, and the signing of a striker with a brilliant goalscoring record won't be enough to satisfy them ... because's he's been signed as chief scout.

Former Pools favourite Paul Baker would certainly fit the bill as a member of the playing squad if boss Neale Cooper could have turned the clock back a couple of decades, but instead he’ll be looking to recruit players for the club’s future.

There’s conjecture that as well as looking at the possibility of signing another former Pools player, Steve Howard, Pools are interested in Leicester’s out-of-favour former Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn, who is from South Shields. But as he cost Leicester £2m in 2010, can Pools REALLY expect to sign him?

Another alleged target is ex-Leeds forward Mike Grella, but for now the Vic faithful will have to be satisfied with the signing of Baker.

He is delighted to be back at his old club after scouting for Norwich under Glenn Roeder and will run the rule over future opponents as well as looking for possible signings.

Pools start pre-season training this week (Thursday July 5) and go to Holland for their annual trip next week and Cooper says he is looking for a central midfield player, a left-winger and a centre-forward.

He told the Hartlepool Mail: “We have our targets identified. I need to chase up another target this week and we’re now waiting to hear back from people, but I’m still inundated with calls from agents.

“Hopefully by the end of this week or next week we’ll be closer to getting something sorted.

“We have seen these boys play and know what they are about, so there’d be no need for trials with the players we’re targeting at the moment.”