It’s a familiar story of being back where we started from

By my calculations, Pools are looking for their 19th manager in just 10 years, following Lee Clark’s resignation after winning just three of his first nine games in charge. 

Frustration and anger don’t even begin to cover how I’m feeling about the situation. It’s staggering that we are having conversations about such a poor start while we’re still in September.

From the outside looking in, I was genuinely positive over the summer. 

In a previous pre-season column, I shared in the anticipation and the buzz around the town. There was excitement over new signings, some had strong goalscoring records. We’d all heard about the playing budget, too – the money available for wages was reportedly the best we’ve had in years.

But anyone who knows me – whether from group chats or visits to my clinic – knows I had reservations about Bromby & Partners effectively running the football club and making the big footballing decisions.

I know Roy Kelly wrote an excellent column in Hartlepool Life last week about the situation. I’m echoing much of what he had to say. 

I have the utmost respect for Landon Smith. He has put his money where his mouth is and invested millions into the club. We genuinely cannot thank him enough for that. 

However, where things seem to have gone wrong is that the club’s owner has heavily relied on external advice and it has backfired.

I know how football works. When Bromby & Partners arrived, I feared we might fall into the trap of signing players based on existing networks, agents and ex-colleagues. We didn’t need that approach, even though it happens all too often in the game.

This was the most important summer we’ve had in years. If we had got it right, we would be up there challenging at the top of the league. 

Look at Boreham Wood – with a big budget but lower crowds, they are flying at the top of the division. Think about the potential Hartlepool had this season under a new owner, with a new manager and a raft of new signings.

Look at the attendance for the first game of the season: 5,800 turned up for that opening win over Barrow. Since that afternoon, the club has lost 2,000 fans off the gate in the space of just four home games (and that’s not even counting the 10-0 shambles in the National League Cup, who decided we should play in that?). 

I know there was a game last night too, but the people of Hartlepool have clearly voted with their feet.

For the Worthing game 11 days ago, there were just 3,800 fans at the Vic. Had we been in the position we all felt we should be, that crowd would have easily topped 5,000, with the ground absolutely buzzing.

Instead, the mood has turned negative incredibly quickly. People are angry again and it looks like poor Landon will have to invest even more to fix this situation. 

I remember hearing Clark say in an early interview that the budget had been spent. If that’s true, it is entirely down to this group of players to show up week in, week out, and prove they have what it takes. 

I say this out of sheer frustration, and I desperately hope everyone at the club does prove me wrong.  My heart always says ‘Come on Pools.’

We need leaders in that dressing room for a start, and it’s obvious the midfield needs improving. On paper, we have goals in the squad, but as we head into October, only Gateshead at the foot of the table have scored fewer than us.

Even if money were no object, the standards simply have to be better. We’ve been saying it for years: it’s all about standards. 

The summer was our chance to hit the reset button and, unfortunately, we haven’t achieved what was needed. I feel like I’m repeating myself every single year.

Before I sign off, I want to say that Lee Clark’s final post-match interview was fantastic. He handled an incredibly difficult situation with dignity and class, regardless of whether you think he should have had the job in the first place. 

He showed his character and, personally, I think he is a top man for stepping down the way he did. Thanks to Lee for giving his best – things just weren’t right for him.