Former English Martyrs pupil Matthew Dolan came through the ranks at Middlesbrough, and was awarded a professional contract by the Teessiders in 2010. Being a local lad, he was often linked with a loan move to Pools, and those rumours looked to have some substance when John Hughes appeared keen to bring the midfielder to the Vic in January 2013. That move did not materialise, with the player instead spending a few months at Yeovil Town. Later in the year, with former Middlesbrough academy coach Colin Cooper now in charge at Pools, the interest in Dolan was rekindled, and he joined the club in August 2013, initially on a one month loan deal. Dolan made enough of an impression during his time at the Vic for his loan deal to be renewed at the end of each month until he was recalled by new Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka in January 2014. After leaving Pools, Dolan spent time on loan at League One Bradford City, and he impressed Bantams boss Phil Parkinson enough for the Yorkshire club to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer of 2014 when it became clear that his opportunities at Middlesbrough would be limited. He didn't manage to nail down a place in the Bradford side during the opening months of the 2014/15 season, and new Pools boss Paul Murray managed to secure his services on loan once more at the end of November 2014. This second spell at the Vic was short lived, with Dolan playing just two games before being injured and returning to Bradford.