SIX weeks after tormenting Hartlepool United while playing for Mansfield, Nathan Thomas has switched sides.

The left-winger, Stockton-born, has moved to Victoria Park after the Stags agreed to let him return to the North-East.

On November 21, Pools lost 2-0 to a Thomas-inspired home side. He caused problems galore for stand-in right-back Scott Harrison, a former team-mate when the pair were prospects at Sunderland’s Academy.

Thomas has since played for Plymouth and Motherwell, while he had a loan spell at Darlington in 2012.

He’s appeared 21 times for the Stags this season, but boss Adam Murray admitted a move to the North-East could see him find his best form after some inconsistent displays this season so far.

"He's only a baby and has been around the country to try and settle and plant some roots for him and his family (during his early career),’’ said Murray.

"An opportunity presented itself for Nathan where he has more security – a move which takes him back home.

"I have let him go with a heavy heart."

Murray admitted: "In spells, he has shown that he is a good player. The thing with Nathan was, we needed consistency.

"For ten or 20 minutes here and there he was brilliant, but we needed to rely on him week in, week out, and in my eyes he wasn't at that stage of his development.

"Nathan wants to play every week, which is understandable.

"Hartlepool came in for him and we've come to an arrangement which suits both parties.

"(This transfer) has been one of the toughest calls I've had to make as a manager because I was close to Nathan as a person."

Pools chief Ronnie Moore, who has had a bid rejected for a League One striker, said: "I'm pleased to get Nathan because we've needed a bit of quality in the wide areas.

"It was disappointing that we lost Kal Naismith but now Nathan is here and he has quality.

"He's a genuine left-footed player who will bring a bit of sparkle to the team and he's one of those who can excite the supporters when he picks the ball up and runs."

Pools have thanked Derby County after the Championship club gave up their share of Saturday’s gate receipts.

County officials contacted Pools on Monday morning to inform the club that the Rams would not be seeking to claim their 45 per cent share of ticket sales from the fixture – a tally of around £23,000 from an attendance of 4,860.

“It’s a wonderful gesture from Derby but not completely surprising because I knew what a great club they were already,” said Pools’ chief executive Russ Green.

“In a day when clubs at the higher level of the game are often accused of greed it’s refreshing to see Derby showing that they are certainly not motivated by money.

“There are good people running the club there and I am pretty certain they’re going to go on and win promotion to the Premier League this season.

“I would like to thank them sincerely for their generosity and wish them all the very best for the rest of the season.”

Pools chairman Gary Coxall also expressed his thanks when he tweeted: “What an outstanding gesture from @dcfcofficial. A club with real, genuine class.”