HARTLEPOOL United are fighting to keep hold of Luke Molyneux and Timi Odusina for next season along with other first-team players as the club confirmed their retained list yesterday.

The club have offered terms to Molyneux and Odusina for next season along with Gary Liddle, Mark Shelton and Jordan Cook who are all free to leave in the summer.

The club have decided to release Josh Macdonald, Olufela Olomola, Martin Smith and Zaine Franics-Angol. David Ferguson and Tom Crawford recently signed new contracts while they have taken up options on Ben Killip and Joe Grey.

Regarding the club’s top scorer Molyneux, it’s understood he is attracting interest from clubs further up the football pyramid in League One and the lower end of the Championship from this season. It’s been reported that Portsmouth, Barnsley and Derby County have been monitoring the winger’s situation ahead of next season.

Odusina, who has arguably had his best season in the Pools defence, is locked in talks with the club and it’s understood that slow but steady progress has been made since the end of the season.

Club legend Liddle, midfielder Shelton and forward Cook are all considering their terms of engagement.

Pools are continuing their search for a new manager for the forthcoming season. Simon Grayson and Mike Williamson have been contacted regarding the role and are understood to have held conversations along with an unnamed Scottish manager. Graeme Lee was sacked after five months in charge following a poor end to the season.