MICKY Barron yesterday stepped up his Hartlepool United rehabilitation, as another player moved out of Victoria Park.

Barron played 80 minutes of the reserve team win at Scunthorpe, his first action of a season which hasn't started yet for the skipper because of a knee injury.

But his run out yesterday, his first game since playing in a club's pre-season friendly in Holland, could see him in contention for a place in the squad in Pool's next game, at Nottingham Forest a week on Saturday.

Midfielder Gavin Strachan, who has not figured in the first-team since being substituted at half-time during the defeat at Huddersfield on August 27, has gone out on loan to Stockport County.

Strachan is the second player to leave Victoria Park on a temporary basis and, just like Darrell Clarke at Port Vale, Martin Scott hopes the midfielder will return ready to push for a place his side.

"He remains a part of our plans but he needs to be playing football," Scott said. "Gavin is frustrated with the situation here but he is a good player and I am sure he will be an asset to Stockport.

"I have told Gavin I'd be willing to let him go out so he could get games.

"But I also said to him that if he was going to go it had to be the right move for him and the club. Gavin remains very much part of our plans, as does Darrell Clarke who went to Port Vale last week

"I don't think there is enough experience and strength in depth in our squad to let them go out long term or permanently."

Strachan will link up with former Pool boss Chris Turner at Edgeley Park.

* Brighton have dismissed reports on the south coast suggesting Diego Maradona and Ossie Ardiles are to buy the club.

The Argentinian superstars are said to be keen to invest in an English club and Ardiles added to the speculation when he said: "It is a possibility. We will have to see what happens,''

But Seagulls chairman Dick Knight said: ''The truth is we have had no contact whatsoever with either Ossie Ardiles or Diego Maradona."