OUSTED Hartlepool United goalkeeper Anthony Williams is remaining at Victoria Park - for now.

The former No 1 was due to join Kidderminster on loan, but the deal was scrapped late on Thursday night with the keeper already on his way to the Midlands.

After a week of uncertainty about his future - Swansea, Cheltenham and Hull have all been linked with loan interest - he will be left behind when Pool go to Blackpool this afternoon, as boss Neale Cooper puts former Greek under-21 keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos on the bench.

Williams' frustration comes after being sidelined since the second game of the season, when Jim Provett played and has cut a commanding figure ever since.

Former Blackburn keeper Williams was given a rare start at Oldham in the LDV Vans Trophy on Tuesday, but, just like on his only other appearance on the opening day of the season at Peterborough, Pool conceded three goals in 90 minutes. This time they also conceded five penalties in a shoot-out.

It's hard to blame the keeper for any of the goals, but Cooper bemoaned: "It was just like pre-season when opponents had 11 shots and we conceded eight.''

Harriers' boss Ian Britton refused to explain why the Williams deal collapsed, but it is believed his chairman blocked the deal at the last minute as the pressure increases on the manager whose team lies second bottom of Division Three.

"There were a couple of snags which I cannot go into," said Britton. "It's disappointing because I wanted to bring more new players in. If that's not possible we have got to get on with it and there's no point in feeling sorry for ourselves."

Pool boss Cooper will be sending out the same message to his players at Bloomfield Road.

Despite an impressive performance in the second half and in extra time at Boundary Park in midweek, Cooper was furious with his side's first 45 minutes.

Only Eifion Williams escaped the wrath of Cooper at the break as he tore into his side.

Ritchie Humphreys and Darrell Clarke responded in style with all-action displays, but Cooper still felt they fell short of his required standards.

Cooper said: "I know Ritchie has quality, he worked hard the other night, but sometimes you need more than hard work. You need quality.

"Look at the last attack of the game - we had a corner and it floated over everyone to the far side.

"That's an example of what I mean, you have to have a bit more quality out there.

"He is a player with the ability and the quality to do it, we have all seen it before.

"I'm not talking about commitment, but the delivery has to be better at times. He knows it himself.''

Eifion Williams is fit after going off with a sore hip on Tuesday and could line up with Marco Gabbiadini in the forward line.

That would see out-of-sorts Paul Robinson on the bench after failing to net a league goal since his hat-trick against Grimsby on September 6.

"He has to do a lot better than he did when he came on at Oldham. He missed a penalty the other night and putting that away could have given him a lift,'' said Cooper. "He has been in the game long enough to know.

"He's only 24 but he knows what it is all about and we need better performances from him.''

Robinson goes back to Blackpool after scoring once for The Tangerines in seven League appearances on loan last season and boss Steve McMahon joked: "I don't know about him being a familiar face - it's an ugly face!

"He's a loose cannon. He can do things in a game that can surprise and amaze you, and he can do other things that are laughable, but he has got talent."

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