PADRAIG AMOND has described how he wanted to leave Victoria Park because playing for Hartlepool United had “sucked the enjoyment out of the game” for him.

The 29-year-old forward has felt the need to go public with his frustrations at Pools because he insists his “conscience is clear” following his controversial move to Newport County.

Amond has moved to Rodney Parade in a £40,000 deal and has come under fire from Hartlepool supporters after Craig Harrison, his former manager at the Vic, claimed the player made himself unavailable for last weekend’s trip to Bromley.

Now Amond has left the National League behind to return to League Two with Newport, who were one of the clubs to have stayed up at Hartlepool’s expense last season.

And Amond, who did hand in a transfer request during pre-season, said: “The only thing I am really unhappy with is the manager saying I made myself unavailable to play or travel.

“If I refused to play why did the club not fine me two weeks wages? I would never do that. No matter how unhappy I am, why would I not turn up at work?

“I’m being painted as a snake, the villain in all of this. I just wanted everyone to know my side of things.

“My conscience is clear – there are always two sides to every story. Any footballer wants to play at as high a level as they possibly can.”

Amond has signed a two-year deal at Newport with an option of a further year and he hopes to enjoy it a lot more than he did at Hartlepool.

He told the Hartlepool Mail: “I was hating football. Anyone that knows me knows I love football. I watch it 24/7.

“For a person like me to get to the point where I am wanting the manager to take me off to put me out of my misery is not right.

“I was so unhappy. Relegation hurt but sitting in the dressing room after Chester was 100 times worse for me.

“After the Chester game I knew I needed to change. I needed a fresh start because things were not working for me, or the team at Hartlepool. I was hating football. Playing for Pools sucked the enjoyment out of the game for me.”

Amond added: “I gave absolutely everything for Hartlepool. I really care about the football club. I want them to get promoted. I want them to win the league. It was just about a new start for me.

“It’s sad the way it has ended but I want Hartlepool to do well. It would be great to be playing them again next season in the league, if we don’t get promoted, that is.”