Pools have made an encouraging start to the season with an away draw at Exeter and a 3-2 home win against Colchester - Allon (2) and Baker got the goals.

The keeper situation is still a problem - currently our custodian is Kelvin Davis who is on loan from Luton. We are still interested in signing Steve Harper but that won't be happening until Newcastle are out of Europe (not long to wait then!)

Our good early season form is largely due to having assembled the team on deadline day last season which has given us a more settled and balanced side compared to those who've made changes in the summer. Still can't complain.

Injuries are relatively clear - Beech, Mc Donald and Barron are all carrying slight knocks.

This is the very latest on the keeper situation - We've had Blyth Spartans' keeper Damien Boyd in goal for the pre-season friendlies against 'Boro and Luton. Reports have suggested that he hasn't played all that well. The management obviously agreed as last night, against Motherwell, we had Steve Harper, Newcastle's 4th choice keeper, between the sticks. My guess is that Mick Tait is looking for a replacement for Paul O'Connor, not Steve Pears. Personally, I'd rather we got shot of Pears (as you may have guessed by now!) and employed Harper and O'Connor to compete for the 1st team shirt. Can't see it happening....

The aforementioned friendly finished 1-1 which is a very encouraging result. Chris Beech got the goal.

Mark Cooper played against Boro! Have he and Tait kissed and made up? It would be useful if they had.

The attendence for the Houchen Testimonial was 2 019 of which approximately 1 500 were Boro fans!

John Cullen has looked impressive so far which has to be good news.

That's about it!

With Houchenesque man management skills, Mick Tait has launched an attack on Paul O'Connor claiming that "Paul's got himself into a bit of bother with Bedlington after making promises and he's scared to death to turn his back on them".

"He seems to have gone for the big bluff and now he can't get out of it."

So signing for Bedlington had nothing to do with not being guaranteed the starting spot over the crocked Steve Pears? It turns out that the club are supposed to have offered O'Connor a 2 year contract. I would be very interested to have seen the terms of that deal.

Still, we're clearly in the shite once again as I find it very hard to believe that O'Connor is going to fancy playing for us this season particularly as he doesn't have the manager's support. I think that this is an apt opportunity to suggest to the club that at this rate the only way to apease the fans is going to be to bring back the mercurial Brian Horne.

On the pitch (yes, there has been some action on it!) Pools got beaten 1-0 by Luton in a friendly.

Keith Houchen's testimonial was played on Saturday and ended in a 1-1 draw. No news on the size of the crowd as yet. Good news and bad news on the goalkeeping front - Pears still hasn't quit - nor is he fit - but at least Paul O'Connor is available to play for us on a 'pay as you play' basis. O'Connor will be offered a full time contract as soon as Pears' retires. The year 2004 has been suggested...

Rumours have been circulating that Whitby Town striker Paul Pitman is to join the club. This has not been confirmed by the club. Not much else is going on.....

Torquay are rumoured to be interested in the out of favour and transfer-listed Mark Cooper. But they are currently unwilling to meet his wage demands (surprise!) and it is reported that Pools may want a fee.

Paul O'Connor has left the club to play for Beddlington. This leaves Pools woefully short in the goalkeeping department once again, particularly as it is unlikey that Steve Pears will be fit for the new season. Pools need a new keeper and quickly!

The fixtures are out and will be on the page by Monday. As usual Pools start the trip with an away fixture and this time it's a short hop to Exeter for the team (Fix! Fix!) as a reward for having the audacity to beat Colchester on the opening day of last season (and really taking the piss when Sean McAuley scored that goal!).

Pools got a shite draw in the Coca-Cola Cup (Fix! Fix!) with a tie against Tranmere (no money and we're going out - hooray!).

Ian McGuckin has been sold to Fulham for a reported fee of £75 000. McGuckin, a firm favourite with the fans, was at the club for 6 years and on his departure was extremely compliamentary to them by saying that they were the best fans in the world. The Flying Pig would like to wish Ian the very best of luck in his future career and hopes that he gets the rewards he richly deserves.

Fortunately, as one door closes another opens. Mick Barron, who played 16 games on loan for Pools last season, has signed on a free. Unquestionably one of the best defeders in the lower divisions it was nice to see Pools 'beat off' (for some reason he wanted to play for us!) competition from Darlow (no contest), Carlisle (crap wages) and Nice (why?) in the race for his signature.

Other transfer news is that the highly rated defender/midfielder Graeme Lee is due to join Southend tomorrow and Michael Bradley is due to sign for Pools very shortly. Overall these transfers will leave us financially stronger whilst providing us with an equally good, if not better, defence.

Everybody (including Darren Knowles) has signed a new contract other than Stephen Halliday who is being linked with a move to Sheffield United.

Other news: Cameroons have agreed to extend their sponsership deal for another 3 years and the new kit will be available shortly before Christmas.

These are the latest snippets of news and rumours: