Vale beat Hartlepool to Brown’s signature
Hartlepool United have revealed that they made “five or six” attempts to sign Michael Brown before the midfielder signed for the Valiants.
Brown was born in Hartlepool and also spent a spell on loan at the club.
Hartlepool boss Colin Cooper told the Hartlepool Mail: “I make no bones about it, I spoke to Michael at length on five or six occasions.
“I know his links to the town, hence when I knew he was available I made a real strong effort to put Hartlepool’s case to Michael.
“I have to say, he responded very positively to what we were talking about.
I know his links to the town, hence when I knew he was available I made a real strong effort to put Hartlepool’s case to Michael…
“The downside, when you are a footballer of Michael’s age, is that he has a young family and lives south of Manchester.
“So, without any disrespect to Micky Adams and Port Vale, that is half an hour down the road and we are a bit further away.
“But he spoke very positively about what he has heard about what we are trying to do and he said – were it not for the geographic differences – he would have loved to have been a part of it.”
Hartlepool face Vale in the league cup this season and Cooper added: “I said to him ‘I hope you have a nightmare when you play against us but I wish you all the best for the rest of the season’.”