PADDY McLaughlin has become the fourth summer Hartlepool United signing, after moving from Gateshead.

An ever-present for the Heed last season, the attacking midfielder, 27, trained with his new teammates at Pools training base – East Durham College in Peterlee – this morning.

He follows Myles Anderson, Niko Muir and Andrew Davies in moving to Pools.

Midfielder Nicky Featherstone has also signed a new one-year deal at the club today.

McLaughlin, who started his career at Newcastle, has played for York, Grimsby – where he was a team-mate of Pools’ defender Carl Magnay – and was an ever present for the Heed last season.

Bates said: “He is experienced, played a lot of games last season and is reliable. He has a good left-foot and a good set-piece taker. He will be good in the dressing room and the sort of character I wanted to bring in.

“He had options to go elsewhere and we’ve worked hard on making the right signings.’’