SAM Collins, the Hartlepool United captain, has signed up for two more years at Victoria Park.

The centre-half moved to Pools from Hull City in January 2008 and has become a mainstay of the back four.

As one of the senior professionals at the club, Collins has played a big part in their progress this season as they finished in a comfortable position in League One.

He's made 49 appearances this season and was crowned the League One player of the month in December.

On the day Pools started selling their season tickets for 2011/12 for £100, Collins admitted: "I have enjoyed my time here, I'm delighted to stay.

"I am happy where I am and I think the signs are looking good."

Speaking on the club's official website, Collins added: "As a team we have improved a lot this year and through the summer if we can continue to improve in terms of players brought in and players staying and then, with the potential of the young lads coming through and the likes of Peter Hartley and Gary Liddle, the signs are good."

Mick Wadsworth will talk to his players today and tomorrow, with an announcement on who will be staying and going likely on Thursday or Friday.

"We've got to make good decisions and take a collective look at it,'' he said.

"We've got to make the squad better and that's the natural course of any football club.

"You can never be satisfied and I'm not satisfied now by quite a way - I want to make things better.

"We've got some tough decisions to make because it's not an easy time.

"It's nice to say to you a young player 'we're giving you another contract'.

"But it's a really sad situation when you say 'sorry, we're going to release you'.

"That's the cycle that we all go through and it's not a pleasant experience - I've done it many times over many years and it's not a pleasant experience but that's the harshness and ruthlessness of the profession that we're in."

He added: "It's been a good season - we've had quite a few highs but we've had some real wally performances.

"But generally we've got better and better and that's all you can ask of the players.

"I hope when we start pre-season that we'll be in better shape than we were last season.

"They're a good bunch and I would say the core of the team is good."

With Collins quickly signed up, he said: "There's some real, solid citizens and real, solid people.

"They will be the centerpiece of our team for next season and we need to dress around the sides of it.

"It's been a rewarding season for me in terms of the response from the players and I'm looking forward already to starting pre-season, as daft as that may sound."