MICHAEL Proctor's hopes of making his Hartlepool United comeback were put on hold last night, writes Nick Loughlin.

The striker has not kicked a ball all season after undergoing knee surgery and was due to start the reserve game with Scunthorpe United at Billingham Town.

But the Bedford Terrace pitch was ruled unplayable, leaving Proctor and fellow comeback players Mark Tinkler and John Brackstone frustrated.

Striker Joel Porter is still around a month away from fitness. He has been out of action since November after knee surgery. He is back in light training but it will be a month before he is considered for a reserve run-out.

Midfielder Willie Boland is likely to miss Saturday's home game with Bury. He has missed the last two games with hamstring trouble and the injury has not yet cleared.

* Southend have been given the go-ahead to build their new 22,000-seat stadium by the town's council.

The Coca-Cola Championship club's proposed state-of-the-art ground at the Fossetts Farm site was approved by a unanimous decision yesterday.

The Shrimpers, who have achieved back-to-back promotions over the past two seasons, have been desperate to leave their cramped 12,400-capacity Roots Hall ground in order to compete financially in the Championship.