BILLY PAYNTER admits the old boys network helped play a part in getting him to Hartlepool United.

The 6ft front-man became Pools seventh summer signing when he completed a move from Carlisle on Saturday.

He will join up with the new-look Pools squad at Maiden Castle this morning when pre-season training begins.

And, while they may be a few new faces reporting for duty, Paytner at least knows one familiar face.

He was a team-mate with Pools assistant boss Sam Collins for four years at Port Vale and both Collins and Antony Sweeney, the former Pools player now at Carlisle, helped him arrive at Victoria Park.

“Sam was important in getting me here, an ex team-mate and we keep in touch and I trust what he said,’’ admitted Paynter, who scored against Pools the last time he faced them, in a 3-0 defeat at Doncaster in March 2013.

“Sweens and me got on well, we signed for Carlisle at the same time and had the same differences with what was going on the at club. I had an opportunity to reignite myself and it’s here.

“He said there’s a great bunch off lads, great fans and a great manager – look what he did last season, it speaks volumes.

“Most teams were disrespectable for Hartlepool last season, they were down – to get out of it speaks highly of the manager and his staff.’’

Paynter, signed by Graham Kavanagh at Brunton Park, soon fell out of favour with Curle and was ostracised, forced to train with the youth team and he had to get the PFA involved to resolve the issues.

Now he is relishing a fresh start at Victoria Park.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the manager, i thought what he did at Carlisle (at the end of) last season was brilliant with the wig and hat!’’ quipped Paynter on an interview on the club website.

“Last year was frustrating for me, I kept my mouth shut and had to be professional and do what I had to do.

“It makes me very hungry to get started, me and the manager there didn’t’ see eye to eye and this is a new start, new challenge and it’s exciting.

“There’s competition up front there and I feel it’s important and Sam has said it’s a good dressing room here, which helps pick up points.

Paynter missed the opening day of pre-season training with the Cumbrians, whose managing director John Nixon said: "Hartlepool started speaking about taking over Billy’s contract on Tuesday night and the club and the player have come to an agreement which has now made that move possible.’’

Pools boss Moore, who now has four out and out strikers competing for a place in Paynter, Scott Fenwick, Rakish Bingham and Rhys Oates, added: “We’ve been looking for a target man for a long time so we’re pleased to get Billy in.

“He’s big, he’s strong, he holds the ball up well and will bring the midfield into the game and hopefully he can add a few goals for us as well.

“Things didn’t work out well for him at Carlisle but I know what that’s like as a striker – I went to Cardiff and played over 50 times and only scored six goals but then went to Rotherham and got 60 in three seasons.

“I am sure Billy can get back to scoring some goals and help us reach the targets we’ve set for the upcoming season.”