HARTLEPOOL United can expect to announce their retained list in the coming days.

And boss John Hughes admits the financial landscape offers a different outlook in League Two.

After relegation to the bottom division, Pools' budget, hardly lavish at the best of times in the last couple of seasons, will be hit by reduced Football League payments and tighter financial regulations.

With around a dozen players out of contract, Hughes admits both club and individuals may have to adjust their sights.

"This week is about sitting down - communication is a massive part of a football club and we have to sit down and talk about where we want to go, draw up a strategy and the ideas I've got will hopefully marry up with the chairman's and Russ' and the budget and we see what we can do,'' he admitted.

"But there's an understanding from me to the supporters that in this financial climate things are different after relegation - finances are different in League Two and there has to be an understanding that you can only get the players in that the budget allows.

"We just look and keep players what the budget demands, so there's a lot of work to do.''

Pools have gone four games without defeat at the end of the season, and the players have earned a steady return of points in the second half of the campaign.

And Hughes added: "But I can say Coops (Neale Cooper) has left me a lot of good players here. What happens in football is if you get off to a losing start then it's hard to get momentum, confidence goes and it can be a hard place on a football pitch.

"I tried to find that confidence, get into them mentally and forge a togetherness and spirit. Working with some of the good players Neale left behind it just shows what can be done working together.''