The 42-year-old succeeds Lee Clark, who quit in a bombshell resignation just minutes after last month’s 3-1 home defeat to Worthing.
Former Tranmere, Fleetwood, Barrow and Halifax Town boss Wild will take charge of his first match on Saturday, when Pools host Tamworth at Victoria Park. He will have right-hand-man Dave Conlon alongside him after he took the role of assistant head coach.
The Oldham-born boss moves into the hot seat with Pools struggling in third bottom in the National League after losing eight of their last nine matches.
He becomes owner Landon Smith’s third manager inside 10 months and the 13th in this roller coaster decade.
Wild is enthused about the job and got started on Friday when he met the players and led the training session at Maiden Caste, alongside Conlon, and coaches Gary Liddle and Adam Clayton.
“Hartlepool United are a sleeping giant, and they should not be in the National League,” Wild told the club website after his arrival.
“During my youth, Hartlepool were always a well-established Football League club, and the challenge to get them back alongside what is going on behind the scenes with Landon (Smith) certainly attracted me to the role.
“There is so much to be excited about, and we hope we can help and bring the good times back to this football club.”
Wild began his coaching career at hometown club Oldham Athletic in 2018, initially as caretaker boss after stepping up from the club’s academy. His side won four and drew one of his eight games in charge, including a memorable FA Cup victory over Premier League outfit Fulham. Following Paul Scholes’ departure from Boundary Park in 2019, Wild was appointed the Latics’ permanent manager until the end of that campaign.
Pete js best known for his work just across the Pennines at Halifax Town, who he joined n in July 2019.
He guided the Shaymen to sixth, 10th and fourth in his three seasons in Yorkshire, though they never made any further progress in the play-offs.
Wild was snapped up by EFL side Barrow in 2022 and led the Cumbrians to two top 10 finishes before being dismissed by the Bluebirds after missing out on the 2024 play-offs in League Two.
He then spent a year at Fleetwood Town in League Two and last season joined Tranmere Rovers, who were struggling to stay in the Football League.
Rovers stayed up, just, but Wild only won one match and was not kept on at Preston Park.
Author: Roy
Author of Sports Life and all sports articles.