Robbie Stelling's Hartlepool United pre-season prediction

Robbie Stelling assesses what Hartlepool United could achieve this season under Darren Sarll

Transcript

00:00So just finally, are you an optimistic Robbie heading into the season?

00:02What do you reckon realistic ambition is for Pools as things stand?

00:06I would say certainly that Sal has gone some way to instilling some renewed optimism,

00:12because back in the last season, although Kevin Phillips did a good job with pretty limited resources,

00:19the feeling around the club was in general fairly negative.

00:22And then the sort of controversial decision not to stick with Phillips and the fallout from that,

00:28the raise in season ticket prices, all those sort of things.

00:32There was a real sort of sense of frustration and even apathy around the place.

00:37But Sal, I think people, supporters have really warmed to the way he speaks, the way he is, the way he carries himself.

00:45Five new recruits, I think, all look to be on paper very good signings,

00:49players that are capable of impacting the first team, which is really important.

00:54So I am cautiously optimistic.

00:55I think the league is open this year.

00:57No, Notts County, no Wrexham, no Chesterfield.

00:59I think Barnet and Songlehall will be up there again.

01:02But the league does look reasonably open.

01:04If Pools can add two, three, four new faces and get better luck with injuries this season,

01:10hopefully they're going to be much fitter as well.

01:13Then there's no reason why they can't realistically challenge for certainly the top seven.

01:18So, yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic, Rich, and I'm not usually too optimistic.

01:21So that should tell you something.