HARTLEPOOL UNITED’S staff and players will be paid next week.

The financially-stricken club is now able to pay wages which are due on Thursday, with tomorrow’s game with Wrexham a home sell-out and an on-line fundraising page which has passed £56,000.

The imminent threat of administration has been staved off for the short-term at least and the club hopes that the money will give them breathing space to find a new owner.

But manager Craig Harrison will be without two key players for the rest of the season.

Jonathan Franks is out of contract and the loan deal with St Johnstone for Keith Watson has expired.

With the club under a National League transfer embargo given their financial difficulties, neither player can have their deals extended.

Franks is expected to join York City, while Watson has been back in Scotland for a week.

The fundraising and ticket sales have given Pools the finances to ensure tomorrow’s game goes ahead. The pitch has been covered and groundstaff yesterday cleared the snow from the plastic covers.

The last remaining tickets for Pools fans were sold yesterday morning, and the club asked Cleveland Police for the Rink End to be segregated to allow more tickets to be sold to home supporters. Their request was rejected.

“The response to the fund-raising has been completely overwhelming,’’ said chairman Pam Duxbury. “Not just with the money donated, but people and businesses have offered their services for the game to work for free.

“The Just Giving page has taken me aback, how generous they have been.

“Yes, it’s surprised me, but it’s justified my belief in why I stayed at the club, and how precious the football club is to everybody.

“It’s been pleasantly surprising. We had a fantastic response at the end of last season for the final game and it’s the same again.

“The people of Hartlepool are amazing. It’s beyond just the fans, the club is in the heart of the town.

“I can’t thank everyone enough. The football club is nothing without its fans and supporters and we are famous for our support.’’

Manager Harrison has seen his side win only one game in ten in the National League, and taken two points from a possible 21 as the financial difficulties unfurled behind the scenes.

Their last game saw them thumped at Dagenham two weeks ago and they go to Chester on Tuesday night.

Pools won’t be signing anyone this month and of his two departing players, Harrison said: “Their deals have ran out and we are doing what we can to renegotiate and re-sign them

“Am I confident we can? I do not know. It is not in my hands.

“I would love to. They have been great players who have contributed at both ends of the pitch and been great for the less experienced players.

“It was always my number one target to keep them. And I will be passing that on to the powers that be.’’

Watson managed only eight starts at Pools after moving in August. He suffered a knee injury in the win at Orient in mid-September which kept him out until Boxing Day and he was missed in his absence.

Franks netted six times in 19 starts since signing in August after he left Ross County and ends his second spell at Victoria Park as top scorer.

Jack Munns will also be missing tomorrow for personal reasons, while Nicky Featherstone still isn’t fit.

Chairman Pam Duxbury will reveal the extent of the club’s situation in an exclusive interview in tomorrow’s Northern Echo.