CRAIG Hignett has today confirmed the departure of three more players from Hartlepool United.

Scott Harrison, Scott Fenwick and Harry Worley have joined Peter Denton, Ebby Nelson-Addy and Kudos Oyenuga on the freed list. 

Pools squad trained at Maiden Castle in Durham this morning, before the boss sat down with his players to inform them of his future plans. 

Options have been exercised on the contracts of nine players: Matthew Bates, Jake Carroll, Kieran Green, Carl Magnay, Rhys Oates, Billy Paynter, Jordan Richards, Connor Smith and Brad Walker.

Fenwick played a big part in keeping Pools in the Football Legue last season, but this campaign has been stop-start as he found himself out of favour, first under Ronnie Moore and then Hignett. 

He moved to Tranmere on loan last month, but thay deal was cut short and returned to Victoria Park

Harrison, a former Sunderland and Darlington defender, has only played once under Hignett, the 4-1 thumping at Bristol Rovers and is currently sidelined with a foot injury. 

Speaking his press conference this morning, Hignett said: "Everyone will know by today.

"I will speak to everyone and they will be in no doubt where they lie.’’

Pools are due back for pre-season training on Wednesday, June 29.

While a number of players have signed new deals in the last two weeks, Hignett is hoping to have a couple more tied down in the coming days.

He said: "There are two I'd like to get done pretty quickly, then I can relax a little bit, then I can talk about the Adam Jacksons and things like that.’’

Jackson, who won the club’s young player of the year award on Wednesday night, is on loan from Middlesbrough and Pools hope to keep him at Victoria Park next season. He is still under contract at the Riverside.

Pools will be without Jake Carroll (calf) and Matthew Bates (ankle) for the weekend trip to Plymouth. Hignett said: "Jake is a no, Matty is struggling. Apart from that, we are at full strength.’’