Pool tell Clark he can stay

Darlington boss Tommy Taylor revealed on Tuesday that he expected a £10,000 deal for the left winger to go through yesterday.

But Clark was still a Pool player last night and despite completing the signing of Paul Smith to provide more competition on the left side, Turner insisted Clark still has a future at Victoria Park.

Taylor has been on Clark's trail for a week and even though the clubs have finally agreed a £10,000 deal, Turner said: "Darlington have made us an offer and I've put the ball into Ian's court.

"I'd like him to stay and fight for a first team place - but if he wants to go to Darlington and everything is agreed, that's fine by us. Ian Clark has not been told that he has to leave the club.

"I've told him it doesn't mean that his first team opportunities here are gone and that he has to go. We don't have to sell him to Darlington in order to allow us to sign Paul Smith.

"The chairman and I have discussed the situation whereby Ian Clark would be healthy competition for Paul Smith. If we had two left-wingers playing well than that would be better for us.

"But if Ian wants to go to Darlington, then we will allow him, because we don't want players here who don't want to play for the club."

Clark has not been in the first team frame since a defeat at Lincoln on September 25 and is behind Mark Robinson and Smith for a place on the left side.

Smith, who made over 100 appearances for Burnley, has signed a deal to keep him at Pool until the end of next season.

He made an impressive first start against Hull eight days ago and Turner had hoped to clinch his signature before last Saturday's game with Exeter.

He was a Turner target during the close season after his release from Burnley and has been on trial at Spanish side Oasuna.

He has played the last three games for Pool on a non-contract basis.

Pool's reserves are in action at Hull this afternoon and are likely to include Clark, Mark Tinkler and Adam Boyd in the side.

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