PADRAIG Amond completed his move to Newport County AFC today and denied being ‘the striker who went on strike’ to force his exit from Hartlepool United.

The 29-year-old signed a two-year contract with County after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.

The Hartlepool Mail reported that the deal could be worth up to £40,000 to Pools, which would be a club-record for the Exiles.

But the Argus understands that the fee is less than those paid for Christian Jolley in 2013 and Joe Day in 2014.

The Mail also reported Hartlepool manager Craig Harrison’s claims that Amond, who scored 14 times in 49 appearances for the club, had refused to play in the match at Bromley last Saturday.

But, after completing his move, Amond took to Twitter to deny those suggestions.

The Irishman posted to his followers: “Delighted to have signed and can't wait to get started at the club.

“Also for what it’s worth I never refused to travel or play last Saturday and certainly didn't go on strike or ever would go on strike as reported.”

Talking to the County website, Amond added: “It’s an exciting thing for me to be back in the Football League. Speaking to the manager, he has some very good plans for the club and I want to be part of it.”

Exiles boss Michael Flynn revealed that Amond had been a key target all summer.

“This is a big signing for us,” he said. “I’d really like to thank [co-chairman] Gavin Foxall and [chief executive] Alex Tunbridge for helping get this over the line.

“We have been tracking Podge since we started our recruitment campaign but we thought the deal was dead when the first offer was refused.

“Hartlepool were understandably reluctant to let him go.

“To get a call out of the blue from Craig Harrison last Wednesday saying Padraig could go was a pleasant surprise.

“We worked on the deal over the weekend and I was delighted to get it over the line before the game [at Leeds United].

“It’s great to get Padraig in. He will add goals and experience and is a great character around the dressing room.

“This deal also shows the club is going in the right direction as we can sign a player for an undisclosed fee within the budget.”

County’s coffers will be boosted from a 45 per cent share of the gate receipts from Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Leeds United.

There were 17,098 fans at Elland Road to see the hosts beat Flynn’s men 5-1.

“That was the most important thing to me,” said Flynn after the match.

“It would have been excellent if we’d won and got an even bigger draw in the next round but the most important thing was getting some finances in for the club.”

Co-chairman Foxall once again thanked Leeds for their gesture.

“We were speaking to the Leeds United chief executive and their board and I thanked them for their generosity,” he said.

“I said to them that it meant an awful lot and we very much appreciated the decision they made to give us a share of the gate.

“They didn’t have to do that. It was very generous of them and I thought the crowd was really good.

“It helps with the coffers and what we need to do to press on.

“I don’t know how much it will be yet. I’m not sure how it will pan out but I’m sure we’ll find out over the next few days.”