Hartlepool United: Three transfer bids rejected and no progress on Peterborough & Bradford striker Luke James

Manager Ronnie Moore told his media conference this morning at Maiden Castle that Pools are trying and will keep trying to bring in new players.

“We have bids in for three players, disappointing for us they’ve been turned down,” said Moore.

“A couple want to go south instead of coming to the north, so that’s disappointing.

“We try, we look. It’s not like the chairman isn’t doing anything about it.

“We’ve been all over the place looking, me, Sam, the coaching staff.

“Supporters want us to sign someone, but it’s got to be the right one and you can’t dive in for the sake of diving in.

“We’ve tried and we keep trying.”

Moore would not talk about James, who SportMail revealed is the target of a half-season loan move from Peterborough.

James, who left Pools for Posh in a £500,000 deal in August 2014, is currently at Bradford city on a full-season loan.

But Bantams boss Phil Parkinson is looking for goals given the depressing lack of them this season – they are the lowest scorers in League One with 26 goals from 26 matches.

It is understood the Stockton-born manager is willing to end the arrangement end early – it is now just a case of whether Pools can reach an agreement with Posh.

Moore though was in no mood to discuss it, saying: “Luke James? Where did you get that one from? I don’t know anything about that.

“We’ve been trying to get a striker in, no doubt about that.”

On the striker front, club captain Billy Paynter trained at Pools Durham base today and will be in contention for a place in the match-day 18 for Saturday’s game against Exeter City at Victoria Park.