26-05-2025
Ex-Wanderers pair released by Hartlepool after spells in National League
Former Wanderers striker Gary Madine will become a free agent when his deal at Hartlepool United expires this summer.
The 34-year-old joined the National League club last summer following a lengthy spell out of action with an ACL injury.
Madine scored eight goals in 30 appearances this season as Hartlepool finished 11th in the top tier of the non-league pyramid.
The forward spent two-and-a-half-years at Bolton, scoring 26 goals in 107 appearances, before he was snapped up by Cardiff in January 2018.
He went on to have stints at Sheffield United and Blackpool – suffering his knee injury while playing for the latter.
Joel Dixon, another former Wanderer, is also departing Hartlepool this summer following a two-year stay at Victoria Park.
Dixon joined the club following his release by the Whites but only made a handful of league appearances this term following a long-term injury.
The goalkeeper spent two seasons at Bolton and got a run in the side in League One prior to James Trafford's arrival on loan from Manchester City.
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His exit was confirmed in the summer of 2023, with Nathan Baxter and Joel Coleman both arriving at the club weeks later.
Madine and Dixon are among nine players let go by Hartlepool this summer amid uncertainty at the club.
The North East outfit had been in takeover talks but announced last week that a potential party had missed a "further revised deadline" to deposit funds, which means there is no prospect of an 'immediate takeover'.
Jack Robinson, Max Storey, Emmanuel Onariase, Luke Waterfall, Anthony Mancini, Kieran Wallace, Gregg Sloggett and Billy Sass-Davies are also departing this summer while Dan Dodds and Josh Mazfari remain in contract discussions.
An official update read: 'Hartlepool United wishes to place on record a sincere thanks to all departing players and wishes them well for the future.'
