Gary Fox admits he is playing a ‘frustrating waiting game’ as his Area title contest was rearranged for the second time.

After being lined up to take on Phil Boyle for the welterweight crown in December it was rescheduled to take place this month, but now Fox must be patient that little longer.

Training in Neil Fannan’s Brierton-based gym, the 26-year-old knows what is important if he wants to progress in the professional ranks.

Speaking exclusively to SportMail, he said: “I have to be calm and make sure I don’t let the put backs get to me.

“Being patient is very important when things like this happen so I will get a six round contest in and then move up to the ten round standard.

“I know I am fit enough to go the longer distance and I am good enough to fight the better fighters.

“It is frustrating but I am happy to wait around and take my time.

“If you have a national title under your belt then that opens doors.

“This could be the first one but that has been taken away from the time being.

“It is a matter of time so I just have to be patient and make sure I keep training hard with Neil and we will get there.”

After the disappointing news that he would not be fighting for the Area championship, Fox will be on show at Hartlepool’s Borough Hall on March 25.

Although unsure on who he will be matched against, Fox believes he is more than capable of putting on a good show on the same night that the town’s most successful boxer Michael Hunter makes his comeback.

“I have improved so much lately I can’t believe it myself,” he added.

“Neil has been inspirational and it is great to work with him and Michael Hunter who is a good friend of mine.

“I always try to put on a good show and this time it will be no different.”

Although disappointed with the way things have turned out on the title front, Fox still cut a confident figure as SportMail visited his ‘second home.’

Gary, who’s record now stands at six wins in seven contests, knows he must keep his feet firmly on the ground.

He added: “It is not the contest I wanted but I will go into it as confident and prepared as I ever do.

“I have to take every fight as it comes and whoever is put in front of me I have to beat.

“Neil has confidence in me so hopefully it will be a good night for the whole gym come March 25.

“With Michael making his return it promises to be a great show.

“Being part of that is a honour for me. He has been fantastic around the gym.

“He is always smiling and training hard and that pushes the others to do better.”

Last time Fox took on journeyman Billy Smith at Peterlee Leisure Centre in December and won over four rounds 40-38.

Next time out for the Fishburn fighter it will be over six rounds and Gary is confident he has the credentials to put himself in contention for bigger prizes.

“It was awkward last time because of the way Billy boxed,” added ‘The Fox.’

“He was much heavier and the opponent changed very late so it was a different bout I had prepared for.

“However a win is a win and I will move on from that fight into a six round fight which I know I am good enough to win.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted to frustration at Newcastle’s failed deadline-day move for Watford’s 25-year-old defender Adrian Mariappa – Shields Gazette

Having let 26-year-old Senegal international striker Demba Ba leave West Ham on a free transfer, co-owner David Sullivan thinks Newcastle risk losing him for as little as £3.5m this summer – BBC Sport

Kieran Richardson could head a summer clear-out at Sunderland as Martin O’Neill looks to cash in before the player is out of contract – Daily Mail

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has indicated he may be ready to open contract talks with the club over the next month – Daily Telegraph

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keeping tabs on Ajax’s 17-year-old midfielder Viktor Fischer. The Reds manager is already considering a £15m summer move for Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen – Manchester Evening News

Meanwhile, United are willing to wait until 16-year-old IF Urædd goalkeeper Sondre Rossbach recovers from an ankle injury before deciding on whether to offer the youngster a deal – talkSPORT

Craig Dawson has signed a contract extension with West Brom keeping him at the club until June 2015 – Sky Sports

Arsenal were joined by representatives from Bayern Munich and Napoli in scouting 25-year-old Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud during the recent 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain – Metro

Everton are close to sealing a deal for rookie midfielder Jake Adelson. The 16-year-old from Australia is ready to pen a three-year contract at Goodison Park having impressed the club’s scouts while playing for Blacktown City – talkSPORT

Cardiff City striker Jon Parkin has admitted that he would be prepared to extend his loan at Scunthorpe United beyond an initial month – Sky Sports

Liverpool may look to sign 23-year-old Sampdoria winger Jonathan Biabiany this summer, who has spent this season on loan at Parma – Caught Offside

{http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/match-report/transfer_rumours_monday_feb_20_everton_wolves_chelsea_liverpool_rangers_spurs_roy_keane_1_4265970|Yesterday’s rumours}

RHYS Williams has handed Middlesbrough a massive boost heading into tonight’s game at Millwall after committing his long-term future to the club, writes CRAIG HOPE.

The 23-year-old Australian penned a new four-and-a-half year deal yesterday to end speculation linking him with a move away from the Riverside Stadium.

Williams has caught the eye for Tony Mowbray’s men this season and his ability to operate in both the middle of midfield and at centre-back had made him a target for Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers, among others.

But the Australia international believes he can achieve his career goals on Teesside.

“I’ve always said I wanted to stay,” he said. “I’m happy here and that’s the main thing. I’m settled and get on well with the manager and the lads.

“I’ve no reason to leave except for my dream of playing in the Premier League – and I want to get there with his club.

“My fiancée has settled here, I know the town and have a lot of friends here. I couldn’t be happier, to be honest.”

Williams only returned to action towards the back end of last season after a long-standing pelvic problem had ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup.

But the Boro Academy graduate has not looked back since and is now one of the first names on Mowbray’s team-sheet.

And he added: “The manager knows what I’m capable of and what I’m not so good at.

“He sees me as a vital player. I don’t want to leave and be a squad player somewhere else. I want to be hopefully a major player for this club.

“He’s shown a lot of faith bringing in Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewcz) and trying to bring more players in. He’s trying to build something here and I want to be a part of that.”

]]> 1.4269310 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:07:49 +0000 http://www.peterleestar.co.uk/adam_boyd_set_for_reserve_team_action_1_4269309

ADAM Boyd will get another chance to prove his fitness when Hartlepool United reserves return to action tomorrow afternoon.

Pools entertain Rotherham United at Billingham Town’s Central Avenue (kick-off 2pm).

It is four weeks since Micky Barron’s boys won 1-0 at Gateshead, with Boyd on target that night.

Pools boss Neale Cooper confirmed last week that the 29-year-old striker was available for loan, having found first-team opportunity limited in recent weeks.

He was, though, a surprise inclusion on the substitutes’ bench ahead of Saturday’s visit of Notts County.

And Boyd, right, was introduced ahead of fellow substitute Colin Nish in the closing stages of the 3-0 triumph.

That pair could both feature for the second-string tomorrow and Cooper will be in attendance to check on their fitness.

But the Scot was pleased with Boyd’s contribution at the weekend.

“Adam showed some really good touches,” he said.

“But we were just saying how well he had done and then he gave the ball away!

“But he’s a quality player and has had a hard time in recent weeks with illness and stuff.

“We just need to get some game time into him and see how he responds to that because there’s no doubt he’s a player who can have an impact if his fitness is right.”

FULL STORY IN TUESDAY’S MAIL ...

]]> 1.4269309 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:07:44 +0000 http://www.peterleestar.co.uk/tony_sweeney_has_regrets_but_refuses_to_rule_out_play_off_push_1_4269308

TONY Sweeney admits there is a haunting feeling of “what if?” among the Hartlepool United squad – but has not ruled out a late assault on the play-offs.

Pools disposed of another mid-table rival on Saturday, as Notts County were sent packing from the Vic on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline.

The result lifted Neale Cooper’s men from 14th to ninth in League One, seven points off sixth-placed Stevenage.

But Sweeney cannot help pondering “what could have been” had Pools not dropped a club-record 24 points in succession on home soil.

“We are ninth now, but there’ll always be a case of what could have been,” the midfielder told SportMail today.

“We could be a lot closer to the play-offs than we actually are.

“To lose eight in a row at home in the league just wasn’t good enough and we’re paying the price for that now.

“But you can’t dwell on hard-luck stories and we’ve just got to carry on as we are now, which is a good place in terms of confidence and results.”

Sweeney believes the momentum gained by the arrival of Neale Cooper makes Pools the dark horses to gatecrash the promotion push as the season enters its final third.

“We have jumped five places after just one win,”he went on.

“So the play-offs? It’s not impossible and there might be one place up for grabs with seven, eight or even nine teams pushing for that.

“We just have to carry on in the manner we are and see where we end up.

“Finishing in the top 10 would be good in itself, but can we push for the last 15 games and surprise a few people? I think we can.

“The manager has come in and we’ve picked up massively and there’s no better way to get everyone buzzing than a play-off campaign, is there?”

FULL STORY IN TUESDAY’S MAIL ...

]]> 1.4269308 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:07:40 +0000