COLIN Cooper admits Hartlepool United’s chances of signing Curtis Main from Middlesbrough were always remote.
The striker moved to Shrewsbury last week and, after his introduction as a half-time substitute at the weekend, he set up their equaliser against Coventry.
Pools are desperate for more firepower, but Main was never a realistic option.
Cooper said: “We didn't create much at all, so I will still keep looking for players.
“I've had one or two texts and tweets from fans about certain strikers being available - it's not for the want of looking.
“It's difficult for me to say whether or not the answer to goals is within our squad because there wasn't an awful lot for the strikers on Saturday.
“There will only be players on the horizon if we think it's the right one.’’
He admitted: “Fans have mentioned Curtis Main – he's outside of our remit.
“We have spoken to Curtis and, unfortunately, he didn't want to play League Two.
“He's also outside of our financial bracket – we can't afford to have people like Curtis Main.
“So we'll keep looking for people that we can afford.
“If it's the right one for us then I think there is a bit of scope to do something.
“Even when the window closes on Monday afternoon, the loan window opens a week later.
“But we have to realise there are parameters that we have to work within.’’
Pools scrapped out a goalless draw at Plainmoor and Cooper added: “Our plan was to try to get at Torquay early and get a foothold in the game.
“We never had the chance to do that.
“They had two shots at our goal in the first 45 seconds and that's not how you start a football match.
“It leaves us asking questions afterwards – is it preparation?
“We were very nearly out of the game before we were ever in it.
“Thanks to Scott very early on he has kept us in it.
“But the longer the game went on the more we coped with what they were throwing at us.
“We then became half a threat on the counter-attack.’
“We've done well to get a 0-0 but I think to have nicked it might have left them a bit frustrated.’’