GARY Liddle yesterday followed Michael Mackay and Andy Monkhouse in signing a new deal to stay with Hartlepool United.

And that means only Michael Nelson has yet to commit his future to the club.

Nelson is attracting interest from Norwich and Hibs and could opt leave the club for free.

Liddle moved to Pools in 2006 from Middlesbrough and has made almost 150 appearances.

Pools, meanwhile, face competition from Swindon Town for Michael Rose. The Stockport County left back has been in talks with Swindon boss Danny Wilson, while Pools have been hoping to make him one of three new signings this week along with Peter Hartley from Sunderland and Dimi Konstantopoulos from Coventry.

Reports yesterday claimed Pools have agreed a deal for Hartley, who is out of contract on Wearside, but Sunderland will have a sell-on clause for the central defender who can also play left back.

Tommy Miller has stood down as Pools’ chief scout.

The father of Sheffield Wednesday’s former Pools midfielder of the same name has been at the club since 1997.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed my time with the club. They are very lucky to have supportive owners like IOR who arrived around the same time I did - and I wish them every success for the future.’’