WITH just over a month until the new League Two season begins with Hartlepool United, the club have organised a quickfire pre-season fixture schedule. 

Pools will kick off their summer of preparation with a friendly away to Runcorn Linnets who play in the Northern Premier League Division One West on Saturday 17th July. 

Dave Challinor's side will then head to the Brewery Field the following Tuesday to face Spennymoor Town before trips to fellow National League North sides Gateshead on Saturday 24th and Blyth Spartans on Tuesday 27th. 

All the pre-season games for Hartlepool are away from home which suggests the club are trying to preserve their pitch at Victoria Park before the beginning of the season. 

It's been just over two weeks since Pools achieved promotion to the Football League and it's a quick turnaround for them to prepare for next season with their first game against Crawley Town on Saturday 7th August. 

Meanwhile, the club are still awaiting news on their out-of-contract players.

Gary Liddle, Nicky Featherstone, Luke Molyneux, Ben Killip, Rhys Oates and Jamie Sterry have all been offered new contracts while talks also take place with captain Ryan Donaldson and Zaine Francis-Angol.