JON Daly yesterday completed his move to Hartlepool United - but the big striker will have to wait to make his debut.

Irishman Daly has swapped life at the foot of the table with Stockport and a relegation scrap for a promotion push at Victoria Park.

But he wasn't signed in time for today's trip to Chesterfield and is cup-tied for next week's FA Cup replay at home to Brentford.

So the targetman won't be available for selection until the League One game with Mike Newell's Luton Town a week on Tuesday.

Pool's interest in the striker was revealed in Wednesday's Northern EchoSPORT and the deal, believed to be worth £30,000 was clinched yesterday afternoon.

The 22-year-old had told Hatters' manager Chris Turner he intended to leave Edgeley Park in the summer, when his contract expired.

League Two club Rochdale were also keen to sign the forward, who was on target five times for the Hatters this term, but he has opted for a move to Victoria Park.

Daly has scored at Victoria Park for County both this season and last and said: "If I can keep that run going, I won't be doing badly!

"As soon as my agent told me Hartlepool were interested I wanted to move.''

Pool boss Neale Cooper has long been chasing a targetman to add some height to his front line and admitted: "Since I arrived at the club, we haven't had a striker to lead the line with a presence and Jon is a lad who we have looked at over quite a period of time.''

* Walsall player-boss Paul Merson has signed defender Lee Vaughan from Portsmouth on a non-contract basis until the end of the season.

Vaughan's career began in the youth ranks at Birmingham before a move to Portsmouth, where the 18-year-old failed to settle.

*Brentford boss Martin Allen has signed veteran goalkeeper George Bankole until the end of the season and released Steve Claridge.

The 35-year-old Nigerian, who counts Crewe and QPR among his former clubs, will provide cover for Stuart Nelson and takes over as goalkeeper coach from Phil Whitehead, who has left Griffin Park.

Read more about Hartlepool here.