SOME clubs spend the summer months scrapping and scratching around for new blood.

Summer, for many, is the time for squad revolutions, last season's dead wood is removed, fresh faces arrive. It's virtually revolution or bust.

But, for others, there is no vital need for a massive turnaround. Some already have a successful squad and the applecart doesn't need upsetting.

After five years of success at Victoria Park, that's certainly the case at Hartlepool United.

So, while Neale Cooper might be going into the new season with the same squad as last season, is it really such a bad thing?

Owners IOR Ltd have delivered the most successful period in the club's history; they are hardly likely to let it slip away for the sake of a few quid.

And remember, this Pool side is a different one, a stronger one at that, to the team which earned promotion from Division Three, after Cooper instigated plenty of changes in personnel over the last 12 months.

Players released at the end of last season were far from first-team regulars. None of last season's successful team has departed.

But while players came and went in their numbers it was two players - the pair came to the fore from nowhere as last season came to a lavish close - whose performances proved the biggest boon.

Big things are expected again of Adam Boyd and Tony Sweeney.

Hone-grown Boyd has more natural ability than most in the division. Give him a run in the side and he will deliver - he netted 12 in ten last season and in just 32 League starts for his hometown club has 27 goals.

Only four of those goals have came during 44 substitute outings.

Not a bad record for someone who has spent more time in the last chance saloon than Jesse James.

And Cooper says the Hartlepool-born striker has returned to the club this summer with the same appetite and attitude as he did when returning from a loan spell at Boston last season.

Music to the ears of all at Victoria Park.

It was three years ago that Sweeney was tagged the new Tommy Miller. Now, after finally proving it, he has every chance of following the Pool crowd favourite all the way to the top.

His loping stride, high leap for headers, and canny knack of scoring from midfield is reminiscent of the Ipswich midfielder.

Sweeney's emergence pushed Gavin Strachan and Darrell Clarke out of the picture last season.

Strachan bowed to injury at vital times after an impressive first full season of regular first-team football, while Clarke was both underplayed and undervalued last season. Both will have big parts to play this season.

Few would swop Micky Nelson and Chris Westwood for any other central defensive partnership at this level and behind the pair is another to emerge from the reserves and youth set-up.

Goalkeeper Jim Provett won both the players' and fans' player of the year awards and showed great confidence and ability when given his chance.

Promoting from within is part of the Pool way - ten players to appear in the first-team last season came from the youth ranks and there is likely to be more this time around, with Michael Maidens and Neil Wilkinson next in the frame.

The coming season will be a tougher affair for Pool. The surprise factor has gone, teams now respect Cooper's outfit.

Opponents now arrive at Victoria Park with a damage limitation plan, they don't turn up going gung-ho, expecting easy pickings.

Away games suit Pool, where the opposition can't go out with the intention of shutting up shop, which means more space to attack and drive forward.

Ten away wins and 37 goals was the division's best last season.

But that spirit, work ethic and character in the squad, coupled with ability, can see Pool compete at the top end of the table again.

Read more about Hartlepool here.