Newell eyes Byrne as Lee replacement

HARTLEPOOL UNITED boss Mike Newell is eyeing former Sunderland defender Clifford Byrne as one of his summer transfer targets, though he is likely to face competition from Scunthorpe United to sign the Irishman.

Newell seems resigned to losing fellow defender Graeme Lee this summer, as the out-of-contract player looks set to re-join former Pool boss Chris Turner at Sheffield Wednesday.

With Lee seemingly on his way out of Victoria Park, Newell has drawn up a list of replacements to partner Chris Westwood in Hartlepool's back-line, with Byrne seemingly among those names listed.

However, The Pool may have to fight to land the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, with Byrne being mooted to have had talks with Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws this week.

Byrne played three months on loan with The Iron this season but rejected the chance to make the Glanford Park move permanent, hoping he would get a chance of a breakthrough with The Black Cats.

However, the Wearsiders decided he was surplus to requirements and it remains to be seen if he will be playing Division Three football next term.