Martin Scott yesterday made his first signings as Hartlepool United manager, writes Nick Loughlin.

Attacking midfielder Lee Bullock moved from Cardiff and Thomas Butler put pen to paper on a new contract after spending the final months of last season at Victoria Park.

Pool's interest in Bullock was revealed in Northern Echo SPORT last week and Scott has beaten off competition from Gillingham, now managed by ex-Pool boss Neale Cooper, and Doncaster for his services.

Bullock, who was at the Millennium Stadium in May to watch Pool's play-off defeat, was a trainee at York in 1997 when Pool's Mark Tinkler and newly-appointed assistant manager Steve Agnew were mainstays in the Bootham Crescent midfield.

Born in Stockton, the 24-year-old made almost 200 appearances for the Minstermen before moving to Cardiff in a £100,000 deal after a successful loan spell in 2004.

But last season he found himself on the fringes of the squad, making 26 appearances, the majority from the bench.

And, with Cardiff needing to offload players after encountering financial troubles, Bullock was allowed to return to his roots.

He admitted: "There were other clubs interested, but I haven't spoken to anybody else because I want to be part of Martin Scott and Steve Agnew's plans here."

Pool were interested in Bullock before his switch to South Wales, but the lure of Championship football proved decisive.

Scott, who is also keen on signing Rotherham's ex-Sunderland forward Michael Proctor, is pleased to make him his first new recruit ahead of pre-season training, which begins this morning for Bullock and part of the squad.

"He performed regularly in the Championship and there was lots of interest from others so it just shows how we are committed to taking this club forward,'' said Scott, who will give a number of players who featured heavily last season an extra seven days rest.

Former Sunderland winger Butler moved to Pool on transfer deadline day last season and bagged two goals in 11 appearances. He started the play-off final, but was injured just four minutes in and was soon replaced by Eifion Williams.

He signed a short-term deal after his release from Dunfermline and is looking forward to helping Pool go one better than last season and secure promotion to the Championship.

He admitted: "I have only been here a few months but I have got to know and like these lads and it would be nice for them to do it."

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