JACK Ross admits the experience of a few close friends helped convince him his immediate future is at Hartlepool United.

Ross asked the club for a move last November, seeking a return to Scotland, just months after swopping Clyde for Victoria Park.

But with regular right back Micky Barron injured and Ross playing well after a knee operation, Pool were loath to let him leave.

Falkirk were interested in a move, but with the transfer window now shut until the summer, Ross is more than happy to stay.

With Pool chasing promotion from League One and a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup, life on the pitch couldn't be sweeter for the 28-year-old. And that is now being mirrored off it.

"Some of my friends work away and I said a couple of weeks ago that they had told me to get my head down and stay,'' he revealed.

"They are abroad for months on end and they've told me to just get on with it as I don't know when I've got it good.

"I was talking to a Hartlepool supporter last week at the reserve game. He had read about it, and was asking me about them.

"At one time, there were three of them working away and one really had it bad. Life was really boring for him.

"It made me think about my situation and, if I'm honest, I'm in a position I enjoy and doing a job I love.

"It's a good job and, as I've said, I'm comfortable at the club.''

Ross is getting married in the summer and all parties will review the situation at the end of the season.

While a number of Scots have returned home during January, pining for their homeland, Ross is quite happy not to be in the same club as the likes of Barry Ferguson and Stevie Crawford.

"It has been a difficult time for me,'' he admitted. "I always wanted to stay here and play for the club.

"My girlfriend is back up the road now, but I get the chance to go back up there regularly. After Saturday's game I was back up to Scotland for a couple of days.

"I've been injured for a while during my time here as well, so that didn't help my situation.

"Maybe there was a bit of homesickness there for me, but I think I perhaps wanted too much too soon.

"I wanted to be playing well straight away and feel comfortable at the club.

"At Clyde I was captain and I had been there a while as well, so I was happy with the situation, but I wanted to come to England and Hartlepool.

"I'm really glad I'm staying here and I'm happy at the club.

"The transfer window is shut and I feel quite content really, and excited about the rest of the season.''

* Under 1,500 tickets remain for Saturday's FA Cup replay with Brentford. The game is not all-ticket but fans are advised to buy in advance.

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