MICKY Nelson last night ended months of uncertainty when he signed a new deal to stay at Hartlepool United.

The commanding central defender, who moved to Pool for £70,000 from Bury two years ago, ended the doubts surrounding his future by putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.

His previous deal was due to expire next summer.

Last season, the Washington-based defender was in dispute with the club, a situation which saw him left out of the team towards the end of the year.

Nelson's agent claimed the club had failed to deliver on a verbal promise of a new contract.

The club took a firm stance and Nelson's written transfer request was neither accepted nor rejected, before then-boss Neale Cooper left him out of his squad after admitting the defender wasn't in the right frame of mind to play.

A £100,000 bid from Hull was flatly rejected.

Ultimately the saga didn't affect Nelson's performances and he returned to the side to play a huge role in taking the club to the play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

After the agony of defeat on May 30, Nelson, rated one of the best defenders in the Football League, yesterday marked his return to training by extending his stay.

And, after central defensive compatriot Chris Westwood left for Walsall, securing Nelson's services was imperative for new boss Martin Scott.

Scott has signed Chris Llewellyn and Lee Bullock in the last ten days as well as bringing in Thomas Butler.

He said: "Players do not need to leave Hartlepool United because we are a club that is going places, we are continuing to go forward.

"We are building and we want to keep our best players."

"I think this is a big boost on top of the new signings - it is important the club is seen to be looking after the players who have done well for us.

"The lads who have been here for a bit of time are showing commitment to what we are trying to achieve and Michael Nelson has been a massive part of what the team has done in recent years.

"The players who we have now are ambitious and they want to play at a higher level and we have to convince them that they don't have to leave to play at a higher level.

"I am trying to bring players in to take us to the higher level and Nelson is one of them.''

Pool physio John Murray has left Victoria Park for Luton, where he will team up with one-time Pool boss Mike Newell.

Murray has previously worked at Scarborough and Darlington and Newell said: "We needed another good physio and Murray has everything we need. He has great experience and the qualifications that are needed and it will be a good addition to the backroom staff."

Tickets for Pool's Carling Cup game with Darlington on Tuesday, August 23, will go on sale to season ticket holders on Monday, July 18.

Priority will be given to season ticket holders until Saturday, July 30, and go on general sale on Monday, August 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.