FORMER Middlesbrough defender Stuart Parnaby has called time on his playing days after a frustrating run of injuries and Hartlepool United boss Ronnie Moore has wished him well.

Moore, who has completed the signing of young Boro right-back Brad Halliday on a month's loan ahead of Saturday’s trip to Exeter City, had hoped to hand Parnaby a short-term deal to provide experience and competition down that side.

However, the 33-year-old has decided to hang up his boots after his latest injury set-back, which arrived when he was forced to hobble out of the midweek reserve team fixture with Scunthorpe when he was looking to prove his fitness.

And Moore feels for him, although Parnaby has already accepted enough is enough after battling with a string of injuries throughout his playing career dating back to when he was an academy prospect at Middlesbrough.

“We spoke obviously after the Scunthorpe game and he was disappointed,” said Moore. “He would have been excellent cover for that right back slot. He has been unfortunate at this club with injuries. He hasn’t had a calf injury during his career and he has done it and that was enough for him to call it a day.

“It can happen in football and that’s why you should always enjoy playing while you can. You never know when your last game might come along.

“It will be up to him if he stays on to help with the physio side of things. He has good rehab programmes he is working on and he will be welcome to stay around if he wants. He is getting in to his own business and he has some great ideas, so we will probably have a chat with him and see what he thinks.”

Parnaby moved to Hartlepool as a free agent in the summer of last year after he was released by Middlesbrough. He played just five times for Pools because of injuries.

His frustrations have led to Moore chasing Halliday before the weekend and he has landed his man in time for him to play after the suspended Carl Magnay joined injured Michael Duckworth on the absentees list.

The 20-year-old was York City's player of the year last season in League Two when he spent time on loan at Bootham Crescent.

Moore also has concerns about the fitness of strikers Billy Paynter and Rakish Bingham, who both have hamstring problems, and he would still like to add another loan player to his ranks in the next week or so.

Moore said: “Paynts is probably 60-40 and is struggling with his hammy. He has done nothing all week, so maybe a week’s rest will help him. Bingham has a slight hamstring problem as well.

“We will be right down to the last minute with those. Harry Worley has a sceptic toe as well, so we have to see the outcome on these (before travelling down to Exeter on Friday).”