POOLS GO IN AT THE DEEP END
RICHARD Money has made his move to plug the failings in the Hartlepool United squad with a three-pronged transfer deal.
Since being appointed Pools boss in mid-December, the experienced National League chief has been bewildered at the imbalance of the players he inherited.
And Money has signed experienced centre-half Michael Raynes, striker Nicke Kabamba and midfielder Luke Molyneux to try and improve their fortunes amid a second season of struggle in the division.
All three have arrived on loan until the end of the season.
Raynes has signed from Crewe, adding some muchneeded experience to the back four after Andrew Davies had his contract cancelled in order to sign for SPL side Dundee.
Molyneux spent an impressive first-half of the season on loan at Gateshead from Sunderland – twice appearing against Pools over the Christmas period. He was recalled by the Black Cats, but allowed back out.
Optimism
Kabamba signed for Havant from Portsmouth and has been a regular for the Hawks this season.
Pools were dumped out of the FA Trophy by AFC Telford United and the playoffs are a distant dream.
Money, who enjoyed success with both Cambridge and Luton in the National League, admitted: “I know what I need to change. When you come in you try and build optimism and enthusiasm and try and build the confidence.
“There is something there, but I know what it takes to be a success in this league and we don’t have too many parts of the jigsaw to get out of this league and be confident.
“We have to play a way to try and give a chance of winning games. I’m strug- gling to think of a group of players I see who go backwards more than this group and the same with winning second balls.
Identity
“We have to play in a way to stop losing those things. I’ve told the players if you need to be here next season then start performing.
“There’s no magic wand to make it turn, but just give a different perspective and way of thinking which takes time to evolve. It may take a change of personnel to get there.’’
Of Raynes, Money said: “Michael is a big voice, a good character and a leader.
“We’re young, certainly across the back, so an experienced head and someone who is going to communicate what we want on the pitch is what the team needs and that should help us.
“Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t think you could get someone like Michael in January so the moment we knew he was available we tried to make it happen pretty quickly. “To be honest, when I got the text that Nicke could available we jumped at it really quickly because he fits the identity of something we’ve been looking for.
“He’s over 6ft, he’s quick and he has a pretty good goalscoring record so I’ll just be telling him to come and enjoy his football with us for three months and let’s see where it takes us.”
Molyneux impressed Money in the games against Gateshead and he admitted: We’ve been working on it for a couple of weeks now and we’re pleased we’ve been able to get it done with Sunderland and with Luke.
“I think he can come in and give us something different.
“He has a great left foot and the one thing people will have seen in his game is the quality of his delivery from set-pieces.”