French centre-half Julian Cherel arrived at Pools for a trial early in the 2009/10 season. He did enough to be handed a short-term contract and he provided cover from the bench in a six-week period during January and February. His only first-team appearance came in a rearranged league game against Oldham at the Vic, and he acquitted himself well alongside Ben Clark after injury and suspension forced Sam Collins and Gary Liddle to miss the match. Cherel was released in the summer of 2010.