THE MIDDLESBROUGH contingent at Hartlepool United looks like growing further, with the signing of Jason Kennedy.
Now at Bradford, the midfielder was courted by Colin Cooper last summer but moved to  the League One club from Rochdale.
However, he didn’t have the most productive of seasons, making just ten appearances, and finished the campaign back on loan at his former club, helping Dale to promotion.
With Bradford signing midfielders Matty Dolan and Gary Liddle this summer, Kennedy’s chances of a spot in Phil Parkinson’s side have diminished, paving the way for Cooper to make his move.
Kennedy left Boro in 2008 for Darlington, when he became a mainstay in Dave Penney’s side before leaving for Dale.
Now a North-East return looks on the cards, joining a welter of former Boro players at Victoria Park.
Cooper is keen to strengthen his midfield. He has had Tommy Miller on trial in pre-season with the likelihood of a contract offer before the season’s opener at Stevenage on Saturday.
He was keen on getting Jonathan Greening, but the midfielder played for Blackpool at the weekend after one friendly outing for Pools seven days ago. 
Kennedy has been on the fringes of Phil Parkinson’s pre-season plans, playing the last 16 minutes of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Pools. 
After Bantams’ centre-half Matt Taylor was allowed to move to Cheltenham, a similar situation is on the cards with Kennedy and Pools. 
After a friendly with Blackburn, Parkinson admitted: “JK was great when he got on. He’s played at this level before and some of the tackles he put in out there showed how much he wants to be involved.
“Our supporters will get behind anybody who shows that level of commitment.
“Someone might come in for him along the way, similar to what happened with Matty Taylor.
“While Matty was here we were saying ‘are you going to be first choice’ and the answer was no. But if something comes in we’ll sit down and discuss it with you.
“It’s like that with JK really but there’s a look about him at the moment that he wants to get in the team.”