 Within four months at Coventry he had been told by manager Gordon Strachan that he did not fit into his plans, but Hall chose to stay and fight for a place, turning down a move to Port Vale in late November 1998.On 18 February 1999, he joined Bury on loan, but again returned to Highfield Road to fight for a first team place.The following season chances were even sparser, with loan moves to Sheffield United on 17 December 1999 (scoring once against Grimsby Town), and to West Bromwich Albion on 10 February 2000, neither of which resulted in permanent deals.