CHRIS Westwood's six-year association with Hartlepool United will come to an end this summer when he should join League One rivals Walsall.

Despite his love for the Victoria Park club, the 28-year-old defender is heading for a move back to his Midlands homeland and the Bescot Stadium is more than likely going to be the destination.

There is also interest in Westwood by Nottingham Forest and two of his former managers at Pool - Chris Turner and Mike Newell.

Turner, now at Stockport, is looking to strengthen his ranks at Edgeley Park as he looks to bounce back to League One after suffering relegation last season.

But, if any, it is the interest from Newell, in charge at Luton Town, that is likely to be the most threatening to his expected free transfer switch to Walsall.

Newly-promoted Luton will offer Westwood the opportunity to ply his trade in the Championship next season and it will be the first time he has had the chance to play at that level since leaving Wolves in 1998.

However, with the composed centre-back hoping to move back to hometown Dudley, the couple of hours drive to training in Luton every day will be a vital factor.

And, after weighing up his options, it appears Westwood will be signing for Walsall when his contract runs out at the end of the month.

It would be a move to, ironically, a club Westwood suffered one of his worst performances of the season against in April.

The usually reliable defender had a disappointing day - along with the rest of his Pool team-mates - as Walsall recorded a 3-1 win in the North-East.

Nevertheless, Pool fans have taken Westwood to their hearts over the years and he has formed formidable defensive partnerships with Michael Nelson and Graeme Lee before him.

Unfortunately the player, who has been offered a new contract at Pool, will not leave on a high note as he was controversially red-carded in his side's play-off final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last month at the Millennium Stadium.

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