With Pools struggling defensively towards the end of the 2008/90 season, manager Chris Turner acted to bring in left back Joe Skarz on loan from Huddersfield Town. Skarz, of Austrian descent, had played over 50 games for the Terriers first team. His first two appearances for Pools were as a substitute but he soon established himself at left back in place of Ritchie Humphreys and he started each of the last five games of the season before returning to Huddersfield.