The Hartlepool Mail's Robbie Stelling reflects on a chaotic few months at Pools

Hartlepool Mail

The Hartlepool Mail's Robbie Stelling reflects on a chaotic few months at Pools.

Transcript

00:00It's been a dramatic few months, even by the considerable standards of Hartlepool United.

00:07Pools were plunged into a race against time to attract new investment and secure the club's future,

00:12following Raj Singh's sudden and unexpected decision to resign in March.

00:17Although the club has officially been up for sale in one form or another since April 2023,

00:22when pools were relegated back to the National League,

00:25there have been long-standing doubts about Singh's sincerity in his desire to sell pools.

00:30There has been previous takeover attempts, a number connected to the supporters' trust,

00:35and one connected to local-born businesswoman Shelley Hammond.

00:39However, Singh was quick to blast previous prospective owners as time wasters.

00:45Nonetheless, this time felt slightly different, from Singh's public resignation of the chairmanship

00:50to the increased level of communication through an interim board

00:54who officially remained anonymous, but were believed to be a collection of club employees and volunteers,

01:01including Lee Rust, Rose Stoker, Joe Monks, Andy Steele and John Pearson.

01:07Talks seemed to be progressing well.

01:09Shelley Hammond, who again looked to be the front-runner,

01:12even took to Instagram to suggest that due diligence was really close to a completion.

01:18Nonetheless, the initial deadline of May 5th, when pools poured the curtain down,

01:21another underwhelming season passed, and then another two weeks passed,

01:26when pools suddenly released a statement to suggest that takeover talks had collapsed.

01:32In another bizarre twist, Raj Singh suggested that he was willing to return to his former role,

01:39but only if season ticket holders voted for him to come back.

01:43In a vote that was chaotic and opaque, 63% of fans who were eligible,

01:51that is, last season ticket holders and those who have already purchased a season ticket for the 2025-26 campaign,

01:58voted for Singh to return, not exactly in triumph, to his previous role for an indefinite period.

02:05Now pools face an uncertain summer.

02:07Ten players have already left.

02:09Manny Disirouet, Joe Gray and Nathan Sharon are all yet to commit their futures to the club

02:14and could well leave on a free in the coming weeks.

02:17And pools face the unenviable task of having to rebuild their squad,

02:22despite losing ground on a number of their National League rivals

02:25and with their reputation having taken another hit.

02:28So how will you identify with the penguins?

02:29So where do you think about and by going through last season?

02:31So Marian, I'm sorry.

02:32I'm not going to see you again

02:34happening with popped up.

02:35So, what about you?

02:37I'm sorry, why was the walk and me out?

02:38I'm lamenting a way of undertaking the world out for an end?

02:40Here we

02:42Just having to walk up?

02:43Good there.

02:44Horrible.

02:45Now you will have another command.

02:47Good asking,

02:48I'm honored.

02:50OK,

02:50you're entendre

02:51good

02:52You're a good

02:53good

02:54Now you know

02:55I've heard

02:56good

02:56so

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