Ian Clark was signed from struggling Doncaster in late 1997. Initially used as a striker he scored some useful goals in his first season, but it would be at left wing back where Clark would play most of his games for Pools under Chris Turner`s preferred 3-5-2 system. After four years of service Clark left Hartlepool in 2001 but he remained in the north-east, taking his versatile skills to Darlington, Scarborough and Gateshead.