MICKY Barron is to join an elite club at Hartlepool United - by reaching ten years' service and qualifying for a testimonial season.

The Pool skipper yesterday signed a new contract at Victoria Park, which will take him to a decade at the club he joined from Middlesbrough in 1996.

Barron is one of several players out of contract this summer, but the club have moved to ensure he will follow Alan Goad (1977), Brian Honour (1994) and Tommy Burlison and Kenny Johnson (1964) in having a testimonial.

Barron, who is just returning to fitness after knee and hernia operations, said: "It's been a frustrating season for me and I am just delighted that the manager and Martin Scott have put their faith in me.

"I haven't played as many games as I would have liked but they know that next season is a big one for me.

"The rest of this season I want to get fit again and try and force my way into the squad and if I do get the chance then I want to make sure I take it."

Barron initially signed on loan from Boro and made 16 appearances under Keith Houchen.

But he signed on a free transfer in 1997 and has since made a total of 307 starts and 12 substitute appearances for the club.

The 30-year-old is 15th in the club's all-time appearance list and is one of only three players to captain Pool to promotion.

* Pool have sold 1,348 tickets for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie at Brentford.

The game is not all-ticket, but they can be bought until 3pm today and on the turnstiles tomorrow, and manager Neale Cooper admitted: "Our fans never cease to amaze me - I've said it right from day one.

"The response has been amazing. Paying for the tickets and the travelling costs a lot so we really do appreciate it.''

Pool have never gone beyond the fourth round of the competition and tomorrow is only the fifth time they have played at the fourth round stage.

Read more about Hartlepool here.