Experienced professionals Matthew Bates and Stuart Parnaby have signed on…
Colin Cooper certainly utilised his relationship with the Middlesbrough hierarchy during his first season in charge at Pools and he will look to continue this. As expected, his first two signatures followed a similar vein with ex-Middlesbrough captain Matthew Bates joining from Bradford City after being released by the club. Stuart Parnaby has also linked up with his former teammate after being released by Middlesbrough. The pair could be Cooper’s only permanent additions but the experience of the two will prove invaluable when the going gets tough, as both players have been through promotion and relegation campaigns. Jonathan Greening, an ex Middlesbrough player who Colin Cooper also played with, remains on trial with the club and will feature in their final pre-season outing at Bradford City.
Cooper has proven that he has an eye for a player with all but two of his signatures being successful. Nialle Rodney, a player who seemed to have more clubs than the years he has been present on this planet (22), came and went whilst Marlon Harewood was signed mid season to help the club secure football league status. So far, Marlon Harewood has been a befouled addition for Cooper. The sarcastic nature to which the supporters have taken to him is an indictment of this as the striker has done little but barge into people and illuminate the reason he has fallen so explicitly from grace. He remains with the club in what will be a make or break season for the striker. If he is to avoid becoming the next seasoned pro to be barracked by criticism from the Victoria Park stands, he needs to start acting…and fast!
