CRAIG HIGNETT believes pre-season has been “perfect” at Hartlepool United ahead of the new campaign.

Pools start at home to Sutton on Saturday, on the back of a solid and impressive summer’s work for the manager and his staff.

Hignett has made eight new signings as he reshaped his squad for a challenging National League campaign ahead.

Speaking at his press conference this morning, Hignett said: “We’ve worked really hard all summer. Pre-season has gone perfect for us, really pleased how it’s gone.

“The pressure is always there, we want to get the club out of this league so the pressure is there. We’ve good, strong group of players and I am optimistic without getting carried away.

“At the start of the season everyone wants promotion – we are no different. We know the league and it’s not about money and spending loads of it, it’s about recruitment and the right players.

“We are close to being complete with our business.’’

Pools have floundered in recent years, with financial problems causing a backdrop of troubles.

But those issues have been cleared and Pools are on a stable footing.

Hignett added: “It’s a clean slate, I have the strongest group of players I can have and the club is in as good a shape it has been for a long time. We have had a lot of work to do with the squad and behind the scenes, with some hard choices and it’s all for the good of the club.

“The aim is to get the club up.

“We have it all in place to push on – a lot of changes have been made, players leaving and new signings in. The last few seasons have been tough and I want it to be a fresh start and these players haven’t been involved in the problems.’’