ANTONY Sweeney, the Hartlepool United club stalwart, is helping new manager Craig Hignett with first-team coaching.

Only two other players have made more appearances for Pools than Sweeney, who turned out 444 times for the club between 2001 and 2014.

Now a coach at the club’s academy, the UEFA A licence holder has been moved into a temporary spot since Hignett was last week appointed manager.

Hignett replaced Richard Money, with the departure of the former manager confirmed by the club yesterday morning after he opted against staying in a role which would see him oversee the club’s football structure.

And one of his first moves was to offer Sweeney the chance to join his coaching team.

Hignett, who will allow Jake Cassidy to move to Maidstone while hoping to add to his squad at the same time today, said: “Sweens is, for now, an extra pair of hands and eyes for me. I’ve a lot of respect for him, a great lad who is Hartlepool through and through.

“I’d like to get him more involved, but obviously he’s got another job here as well as Under 16-18s coach – a duel role already, but if I can I’d like him more involved.

“It’s nothing formal, I would like to get him in and around the first team for us and for his own development.

“Then, in the summer, maybe we could nick him full-time if it goes well and that’s a conversation for that time.’’

Hignett added: “At the moment he is free at times during the day to work with the first-team squad before the Academy train on an evening. He’s free to come and help us on matchdays and I see him being with us between now and the end of the season’’

Money’s exit was revealed by The Northern Echo and a club statement read: “Following discussions on Monday, Richard made it clear he didn’t want to burden the club with additional cost and offered to cancel his contract. It was therefore mutually agreed that Richard should be released from his contract.

“During his time here, Richard assisted in a number of player signings, which we believe will be of benefit to the club this season for which we are grateful.

“Raj Singh commented “Whilst we are disappointed, I would like to thank Richard for his honesty. I respect Richard’s integrity and the fact that he didn’t wish to further financially burden the club and wish him all the very best for the future”.’’