HARTLEPOOL United have moved to appoint a new physio at the club following the recent departure of the hugely popular Ian ‘Buster’ Gallagher.

Stephen Haywood will take over the physio department of the club and has recently been involved in a role with Featherstone Rovers in the Rugby League for five years.

Prior to his background in sport, he spent 22 years in the military as a physio. He’ll take over the role with immediate effect.

Buster has left the club citing personal and business reasons with the final game of his tenure being the weekend’s 3-2 win over Harrogate Town.

Manager Dave Challinor said: “I’d like to welcome Steve to the club.

“Great to have him in. A new face with new ideas. Great to come in on the back of a win and see the place in good spirits.

“The first few weeks for him are going to be in more of a watching brief in terms of the habits and the routines of players, the schedules of ourselves and ultimately him taking ownership of that side of things and put into place his plans of how he sees that department running.

“Everyone will run it differently but ultimately the responsibility will be with him. He’ll have ownership of that.

“I’m sure he’ll fit into the group. It will be a really positive appointment and hopefully he’s really unused! Not having lots of injuries and he finds it quite an easy role. I’m sure that won’t be the case and there are challenges but I know it’s certainly one he’s looking forward to.

“Coming across from predominantly a Rugby background into this environment but an opportunity and a job that he’s really looking forward to getting his teeth stuck into.”