15-6-10: Ben Clark has joined Gateshead on a free transfer after rejecting the chance to stay in the Football League following his release by Hartlepool United. The defender was not offered a new contract by Pools at the end of last season after struggling with injury during the past campaign. He has decided to drop into the Blue Square Premier with Gateshead and is determined to play a part in helping his new club win promotion. "Both the manager and chairman at Gateshead are very ambitious and, while I had a few other options, it just felt right to join Gateshead," Clark told the club's official website. "I have taken a significant pay cut, but money was never the main issue. I didn't enjoy my last season at Hartlepool where I missed most of the first half of the season through injury. "I had always been a regular at Victoria Park and at the end of the day I just want to play football week in, week out. "There were a couple of Football League clubs and a couple in non-league interested, but I was impressed with what I saw at Gateshead. "I am still only 27 and there is no reason why I can't play in the Football League again - if that happens to be with Gateshead then that would be a major plus."