HARTLEPOOL UNITED face competition for Jordan Deacey, with Scunthorpe keen on the Bradford Park Avenue prospect.

The midfielder spent time on trial at Pools last season and played a number of games for the reserve side.

Boss Colin Cooper is friends with Deacey’s father John, who is the Bradford PA boss, and signed Michael Duckworth from the Conference North club last summer.

Deacey scored for Pools’ reserves against the Iron while on trial. Park Avenue finance director Kevin Hainsworth said: “We don’t want to lose Jordan but I think it’s inevitable that he will be playing in the Football League sooner rather than later.

“Jordan might be going to Scunthorpe United because they are the latest to be keen on him. “We are playing Hartlepool as part of Ducky’s transfer and he has done well for Colin Cooper. It was common knowledge that they were having a close look at Jordan but it could be that Scunny get him.

“He is very influential for us and we have a better chance of winning games when we see he is in the starting line-up, but the bottom line is that we don’t want to hold him back.’’ Pools visit the Horsfall Stadium on July 19 in preseason and Hainsworth added: “We have a good relationship with Hartlepool now, and that is down to the Ducky deal, and they have been great with us.

“Ducky has fitted in really well up there and Colin is aware that we are a club that does things right and can develop players.’’

Antony Sweeney, the long-serving Pools midfielder is attracting interest from Carlisle United. He is out of contract, but has been offered a new deal at Victoria Park and Carlisle are keen to add him to their squad.

A move to Cumbria could appeal for the captain after he played only a limited role last season.