SUMMER recruitment will, for Dave Jones, be of paramount importance.

The Hartlepool United boss started work at Pools in January, but didn’t add to his squad with any permanent additions.

And since working with the players day in, day out he’s discovered an imbalance in the squad.

Jones has bemoaned the lack of leaders and real football experience amongst his options as he plots Pools’ short-term future.

The vastly-experienced chief has started to turn the team’s fortunes around, but Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Wycombe proved a disappointment after three wins from the previous four outings.

While injuries have sidelined a number of older professionals in his squad – Billy Paynter, Carl Magnay, Trevor Carson, Rob Jones, Matthew Bates and Nathan Thomas have all been sidelined at different times – Jones has avoided recruiting any free agents.

“If someone is there you may pick up a gem, but it’s hard to get them. They are normally tied up by now and if they are out there we will get a shout on them,’’ he said.

“We are looking at players, but they have to be better than what we already have got and so far we haven’t had that.

“This is a problem we have had at the club since the beginning of the season. Recruitment has to be spot on.

“They are the things I don’t think were at the level that we think they should be. I don’t know the circumstances for that so it’s very difficult.

“Even in the January window I can’t just come in and know there’s players around, you have to do your homework or you end up being reactive than proactive. I’d rather know my players.’’

Jones, with eight games remaining this season, is expected to revamp the squad in the summer and recruitment is one key area he is redeveloping at the club.

He said: “If we picked up an injury to a key player in January I would have had a list of two or three players in that position all the way through the squad.

“That’s the way I work. So now I’ve brought the guy I’ve worked with for a long time and I feel we are working at a level which will be good for this football club – and that’s going all over the world, not just this country.

“That’s the database you try and build and for whatever circumstances it’s difficult without that information. You can have as many databases you want at home, but you have to be in it to get them.

“The priority was to sort out the first team rather than see what we could bring in.’’

Pools have sold in excess of 1,200 tickets for Saturday’s game at Blackpool. They are available from the club ticket office priced £5 and £1 concessions and can also be bought at Bloomfield Road on the day of the game.

There’s every chance Pools fans will make up over half of Saturday’s attendance.