On the latest episode of the Poolie Podcast, Rich Mennear and Robbie Stelling react to a huge week of news at Hartlepool United as Raj Singh steps down as chairman of the club.
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00:00Thank you very much.
00:31Hello and welcome to this week's Pooley Podcast with me, Richard Munney and our Heart of Poole United writer, Robbie Stelling of the Heart of Poole Mail.
00:40Plenty to discuss this week, Robbie, which we'll get round to in due course.
00:45We normally start with the Eastleigh game, but I don't suppose anybody really cares about that anymore, do they, Robbie, after a dramatic week at the Vic?
00:53But we'll touch upon that a little bit later and look ahead to the weekend as well.
00:57But obviously, firstly, we'll start with big news this week from Poole's that Raj Singh, owner of the club, has stepped down with immediate effect as of Tuesday night as chairman of the club.
01:10Obviously, the club remains up for sale. Technically, it's been up for sale for a couple of years or so.
01:15We'll get into the whys and wherefores of that and kind of what level of interest it might be this time around.
01:22But it was certainly a significant step on Tuesday night, Robbie.
01:26Obviously, it comes upon the wider context of another season of struggle at Poole's.
01:30Fairly disillusioned fan base, I think it's fair to say.
01:33And it was quite a lengthy statement from Raj Singh, which I'm sure everyone will have read by now.
01:38Anthony Inbrick was speaking this morning ahead of the weekend game.
01:42I suppose, as you'd expect, trying to keep, from his point of view at least, the focus on the football.
01:47But whilst he might not be across everything off the pitch, fans probably deserve a little bit more insight, I would say, from those that are currently speaking at the minute.
01:56But we'll delve into that as well.
01:58So, yeah, a lot going on.
02:00And Raj Singh has also confirmed that he'll fund the club until the end of the season.
02:03So, the clock is ticking with, obviously, the end of the National World season coming around pretty sharpish in less than two months or so.
02:10Robbie, how's your week been and how do you assess the news?
02:15Eventful, Rich, it has to be said.
02:17It's never boring covering Hartlepool United.
02:20That's for certain.
02:22In one sense, it was a massive surprise, wasn't it?
02:24I don't think anyone really expected the announcement, the timing of it.
02:28It all seemed really sudden.
02:30But I suppose in another regard, we shouldn't be altogether shocked because, as you said, the club has been up for sale since April 2023, when pools were relegated.
02:43There was that decisive game at home to Crawley at the end of the season, when fans voiced their discontent at chairman and owner Raj Singh.
02:53And he responded by putting the club up for sale.
02:56At times, it's felt a bit like tip for tap more than anything.
02:59I think a lot of people would question to what extent Singh has genuinely been serious about selling the club.
03:06Obviously, in his statement, which was really bullish, wasn't it?
03:09He said that personal abuse and the misrepresentation of information had made his position untenable.
03:18He criticised supporters groups.
03:21He suggested the previous prospective buyers have been time wasters.
03:27So clearly, there is an admission that there has been interest in the last couple of years.
03:31But obviously, Singh has not been satisfied by that.
03:36The fact that he's stepped down as chairman in quite a public way suggests to me that this is significant.
03:43In some ways, it feels like we've been here before, particularly in the months after Singh first put the club up for sale.
03:51But this feels slightly different, I think, given the public nature of the statement and the resignation.
04:00It feels more to me like Singh is genuinely serious about selling the club than probably at any stage in the last couple of years.
04:09As you said, it's been another really disappointing season.
04:12On the pitch, the results have been generally disappointing.
04:16We've had three different managers for the second season.
04:19In a row, the deterioration of the pitch has been almost like a public rebuke to the way that things are going.
04:29Pools are staring down the baron of a bottom-half finish in the National League.
04:34They obviously finished 12th last season.
04:36They still need to get a few points to be absolutely certain of their National League status.
04:42That's obviously going to be significant for all sorts of reasons, not least because a National League club will be far more attractive to any prospective investors than one in the National League.
04:51Presumably, from Raj Singh's point of view as well, it'll better hold its value.
04:58It's been a really turbulent few years, hasn't it, Rich, since Raj Singh took over the club at the end of the 2017-18 season?
05:07I think it's important to point out, I know Raj personally.
05:11He's always been really good with me.
05:14I've always felt as though I have a good personal relationship with him.
05:17We watched the playoff semi-final against Stockport together.
05:20We were together at the playoff final as well, so I think that's important to point out.
05:26The start of Singh's tenure, it's also worth remembering that he took over with the club in a really difficult position, a far more difficult position than it is at the moment.
05:37He needed £1.2 million of cash to save the club from the threat of administration and even potential liquidation.
05:44Prior to Raj Singh, we had some really, really dark times.
05:49I remember when the club weren't able to afford their electricity bill, when they weren't even able to afford their dry cleaning bill.
05:57The initial years felt like a process of rebuilding.
06:01Obviously, we had a memorable season under Dave Chandler when, I think to his credit, Raj Singh did back the manager at an important point in the season.
06:10Luke Armstrong came in just before Christmas and obviously proved to be an inspired signing.
06:15There were a couple of other impressive defensive signings as well.
06:19Towards the end of the campaign, Pools used the loan market significantly to their advantage.
06:25The first half of the following season, that season back in League 2, was positive as well.
06:31Of course, Pools set out on a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.
06:37But since losing Dave Chandler in November of that year, things have taken a turn for the worse.
06:44It's important to point out that a lot of the good times might not have been possible without Raj Singh.
06:48I think it was a genuinely distinct possibility that the club could have gone to the wall had it not been for his intervention.
06:56But of course, goodwill only lasts so long.
06:59I think a series of disappointing decisions, perhaps a lack of ambition as well, contributed to Dave Chandler's departure and the subsequent relegation back to the National League the following season.
07:12In many ways, now we find ourselves in a similar position, actually, to what the club was,
07:17certainly in terms of footballing position and status to what it was when Singh first took over.
07:24I don't think anyone could argue that the club is on more sound financial footing,
07:28albeit there is considerable uncertainty surrounding what the future might hold at the minute.
07:35This season in particular, I think the division between the fans and the board has become starker and starker.
07:45I've said before, it feels like every week you almost are experiencing a new low of some kind.
07:50I mean, Pools are struggling in the fifth division of English football.
07:54That shouldn't be right for a club of this size.
07:56They have one of the biggest, most dedicated and most passionate fan bases.
07:59I think at the very least, Pools fans will feel as though they are a football league club.
08:04And with good reason, for 95% of their history, they've been competitive in the football league.
08:09So that's been difficult. I think not just the results, a perceived lack of ambition, a lack of direction,
08:16certainly a lack of footballing identity. And that kind of thing comes from the top.
08:22You look at the last six, seven managerial appointments,
08:28it's hard to fathom what direction the club wants to go in.
08:33We've had a complete novice in Graeme Lee.
08:37We've had relative rookies in the likes of Kevin Phillips and Anthony Lindbergh.
08:43You had Paul Hartley, who came from relative managerial obscurity over in Scotland.
08:47Then you've had experienced managers like John Askey and Keith Curl.
08:50So it's difficult to work out what direction the club is going to go.
08:54It's certainly a step into the unknown. I've said that before.
08:57It is a step into the unknown. And that can be really daunting, as Singh sort of alluded to in his statement.
09:04He's promised to fund the club until the end of the season.
09:07After that, you get the sense that Pools are going to be on their own from a financial viewpoint.
09:12There's not a massive amount of time from which to sort something, to find new owners,
09:16to find a new buyer and to secure the future of the club.
09:20But a lot of successful clubs have taken risks to get to where they are.
09:25This is a risk to an extent. But I think given the direction of travel in recent years,
09:31it felt like something that was inevitably going to happen at some point.
09:35I'm not sure that Pools fans would have accepted the results and the division off the pitch.
09:45I'm not sure Pools fans would have been happy to accept that.
09:48For too much longer, it felt like things were coming to the fore in many different regards.
09:54And it's been a difficult season. It's a significant step, as you said, Rich.
09:59If things go right, then it could be a really positive step.
10:02And I'm optimistic. I don't think I've ever been as optimistic that the club will successfully change hands
10:06and Pools will move forward as I have been talking, than I am talking to you today.
10:11But of course, there's a risk. There's an element of unknown to what's going to happen next.
10:16You only hope that all parties can get around a table, that there are the right prospective buyers
10:23out there, that they're able to meet Singh's needs and offer him what he deems fair,
10:31and that everyone is reasonable around the negotiating table and the club can move forward again.
10:38Yeah, our eyes are on May 5th. Hattonpool play Forest Green at home in the last game of the National League.
10:43I suppose that's the loose timetable that we've got to in terms of when Reg Singh will commit funding to the club,
10:49at the end of the season. So that's May 5th, which is what, a little over, I don't know, six, seven weeks away.
10:55There was obviously interest last time. Reg Singh's referenced some of that.
11:00And we know there will be interest again. So hopefully a deal can be struck with somebody very soon
11:05and Hattonpool can pick themselves up and get back into an established football league club.
11:11You've been speaking to Anthony Lindblad this morning. I guess, understandably, he's not really in a position, is he?
11:16Speaking too much about the takeover and Reg Singh's position as chairman.
11:20You said it's been business as usual for us this week. We were in training this week,
11:24planning and preparing for the game at the weekend, regardless of what happens off the pitch.
11:28We know we've got to perform at the weekend. We know what we want, that we want a home win.
11:32Not much has changed for us. A lot of the off-field matters aren't necessarily for me to comment on.
11:35In football, there's a lot of uncertainty all the time. And this is another example of that.
11:38It's business as usual for us. We need to focus on that and come together as a group.
11:42It doesn't change the day-to-day for us and that's what's important.
11:46A strong message, a message he reiterated throughout the press conference this morning.
11:51Robbie, as I say, he's in a slightly tricky position, but he's also the only person that fans can hear
11:59what's actually happening in the club via, so what was your take on the press conference this morning?
12:03And also Limerick's future as well, because how many games left this season? Nine games?
12:07Nine, yeah.
12:08Do you think he has a maximum of nine games? Is it hard to call tenure?
12:12Because if a new owner comes in, more often than not, they'll want to appoint a new manager.
12:18Yeah, it's a difficult position for him to be in, isn't it, really?
12:21He inevitably is the one that has to fend off those sorts of questions.
12:28I would imagine he probably has more of an idea of the big picture than he was letting on.
12:35But it's probably pragmatic. It probably makes sense for him not to reveal too much.
12:42I think a lack of clear communication has been a big issue for the last couple of years.
12:47I think that the chairman has sort of gone into his shell in that sense.
12:52And that's been really frustrating for Poole's fans.
12:56Supporters are willing to accept, I think, that the running and ownership of a club at any level is a big job.
13:04It's a really difficult job. It requires a significant commitment in terms of finances and in terms of time.
13:12But I think part of the reason for the growing of this division and divide is the fact that Poole's fans haven't heard from Raj Singh as often as they might have liked.
13:22And when they have, it's been in very much a controlled setting.
13:26So that's been a frustration.
13:27Inevitably, that means that the manager or head coach, whoever he is, tends to be the one that has to face up to these sorts of questions.
13:35When to a greater or lesser extent, what goes on above his head is out of his control.
13:42Look, I think the only message he can really send is that it's business as usual.
13:47Pools are focused on the football. That makes sense.
13:50And to a degree, I'm sure that that's true.
13:53On Saturday, when Poole's take on Songhael Moore's, I think over the 90 minutes, you wouldn't expect that any of the players will be too concerned about what's going on at the negotiating table.
14:03They'll be focused on trying to get three points.
14:05And let's not forget that Poole's need a couple of good results to make certain of the National League status.
14:10I don't necessarily buy into the fact, though, that the players and management are almost oblivious to what's going on.
14:18Of course, it's going to affect them.
14:20Uncertainty is a part of football.
14:23Most of these players and Lundbrik himself will have experienced some form of uncertainty at a certain stage in their career.
14:33That's inevitable being a football manager and being a football player, especially at this level, when you tend to only get one year contracts.
14:41Uncertainty is part of the job at the beginning and end of every season.
14:45That's inevitable. But this is slightly different.
14:51Poole's have only got a handful of players signed on for next season.
14:55And even those players next season will be wondering what's going to happen.
14:58What sort of direction is this club going to go in?
15:01But the majority of the squad who we believe are out of contract, some like Manny Desirue and Joe Gray, who have been offered new deals.
15:08Others who in the past, like Luke Waterfall and Gary Medin, have said they haven't yet been offered new deals.
15:12Of course, they could have been in the intervening period.
15:15We simply don't know. That's inevitably going to play on their minds.
15:19I imagine that it was a significant concern anyway.
15:22You want to be able to know what you're going to be doing next season, where you're going to be working, where you're going to be living, where you're going to be playing your football.
15:28Are you going to have to look for a new club or not?
15:32And of course, the uncertainty that now surrounds the ownership is only going to make that more significant.
15:40If, as Raj Singh says, he's happy to fund the club until the end of the season, but as we presume, not beyond, then I would imagine that that means
15:47Harpnable United cannot currently negotiate contracts for next season.
15:51Obviously, I'm no expert in this field.
15:53But if there's no money after the end of the season, then it's going to be difficult to negotiate new deals for the following season.
16:00And what sort of player would be keen to commit their future?
16:04I'm not sure I asked Anthony Lindbrick about that this morning.
16:07He batted it back, as we probably would have expected.
16:10Again, he reiterated that pools are focused on the football.
16:15And for Anthony Lindbrick, I suppose more than anyone, perhaps it is a period of uncertainty.
16:21Yes, new owners tend to like to bring their own man.
16:28I don't know if that's necessarily going to be a significant fear for him.
16:33I mean, he's a new manager.
16:36He's a new appointment.
16:37Yes, he spent three months working as head coach.
16:41I think if you're Lindbrick, actually, all you can do is focus on now until the end of the season.
16:47Of course, he's going to have one eye on what goes on above and around him, quite what role he has to play.
16:54And that remains to be seen.
16:56But whether he has any sort of role, it's difficult to say.
16:59And I imagine we probably won't get to find that out.
17:02But pools need some good results.
17:03Obviously, they need to make sure that they don't get dragged into a relegation dogfight.
17:07But from Anthony Lindbrick's point of view, the more positive results he can get, the more good performances his side can produce,
17:14the better he's going to have, better chance he's going to have of leading the team next season, whatever form that may take.
17:21One win in 12 games for pools.
17:24Those weren't all under Anthony Lindbrick, but only one win in Anthony Lindbrick's tenure.
17:30Of course, they had that run of four successive defeats.
17:32A slight improvement on Saturday when pools drew one all with Easley, but it still wasn't a spectacular performance.
17:38As we've discussed, he's made a lot of changes to his side, some of them in force, but many of them tactical.
17:43I think there's a real sense that he doesn't have a clear idea of what his best team is.
17:47He's chopped and changed it in terms of the shape as well.
17:50He's gone 3-5-2, then 4-2-3-1 and now back to a 3-5-2 on Saturday.
17:55He said that was to match up Easley, but I imagine he would stick with the same shape again.
18:00All he can really do is put his best foot forward and try and win as many games between now and the end of the season
18:07to give himself the best chance of convincing the board, the owners, whoever that might be,
18:13that he is the right man to lead the team next season.
18:16As you know, I like Anthony Lindbrick. I think there's a lot to like about him as a man and a manager.
18:22He's got some interesting ideas about football.
18:26It's also worth pointing out that this is not a squad that he assembled.
18:31Rather, it's one he inherited. Darren Sile did a lot of the business over the summer.
18:35Clearly, they've got very different ideas about football.
18:39So Lindbrick's had to approach this with an element of relative pragmatism.
18:43Yes, it hasn't quite worked out at the minute. Perhaps Pools might have had more points than they have done.
18:50They've had some really good chances at important points. Mistakes have cost them as well.
18:55They had another mistake on the weekend when Billy Sastavius failed to deal with a hopeful punt forward.
19:00And then Adam Smith charged out and was caught in no man's land.
19:03So perhaps they could be in a slightly better position.
19:06But I think it would be difficult to argue that there's been a major improvement, certainly,
19:11since Lindbrick replaced Lenny Lawrence, albeit at a difficult time.
19:15So it's an uncertain future for Pools. It's an uncertain future for many of the players.
19:19And it's an uncertain future for Anthony Lindbrick.
19:22And because I've said I'm optimistic, I'm hopeful.
19:25But if Anthony Lindbrick is going to be the man to lead the team next season, no matter who is calling the shots,
19:31he's going to need to win some games between now and the end of term.
19:34Yeah, he referenced business as usual at Pools this week.
19:37I think fans will hope that it isn't, given the long run they've had without a win.
19:41But hopefully that comes this weekend with the visit of Solihull Moors to the northeast.
19:48I suppose one of the wider points is that owning and running Hartlepool United
19:52is going to be more expensive next season for whoever the owner is,
19:55based on the parachute payments from the AFL ending,
19:59with Pools being a couple of years now in the National League,
20:01obviously the wider kind of national insurance rises and things like that.
20:05So costs will increase.
20:08So there's that factor as well, isn't it, for the new owners to come in.
20:11But that's played a part in terms of potential sales speeding up as well.
20:15We don't yet know, but we shall see.
20:17Just to add on the fan base, Robbie, it's fairly divided, I would suggest.
20:21Various fan groups at Pools at the minute with different opinions.
20:26I suppose it's key, isn't it, that everyone tries and sticks together,
20:31certainly over the next few weeks.
20:33First and foremost, Pools get over the line and secure their National League status,
20:37and then hopefully we can all hope for a brighter future under new owners.
20:42Yeah, I think for any new owners,
20:47one of the biggest selling points has to be the fan base.
20:52I mean, Hartlepool have had some amazing days in recent years,
20:58even if the football hasn't always been the best.
21:01The first half of that season, when they return to League Two,
21:06I remember the Carlisle game, three or four weeks into the new campaign,
21:12Pools won 2-1.
21:13I think Gavin Hollihan scored a pretty spectacular second-half goal.
21:17It was just fantastic.
21:19The feeling inside the ground was incredible.
21:24There were days when I would turn up to a game,
21:27I genuinely felt there was no way Pools could lose
21:30because the fans were so behind them, the atmosphere was so impressive,
21:35and there's no reason that that can't happen again.
21:38It was only three or four years ago, let's not forget.
21:42And so I think for any new owner, that's going to be something that really appeals to them.
21:47I have to admit, I was surprised.
21:48I am surprised by the divisions evident amongst supporters,
21:54obviously a number of supporters groups clashing to an extent.
21:59Look, it's a difficult situation.
22:04I have to say I'm not a huge fan of some of the finger-pointing and point-scoring at this stage.
22:10Some of the things I've seen, you would think that the club has just gone bust or something like that.
22:17There are really strong words being issued.
22:22There are significant fingers being pointed.
22:25Yes, it's a time of uncertainty for Pools,
22:29but that doesn't mean that it has to be a time of stagnation or regression.
22:34I understand that fans are concerned.
22:36That's perfectly natural.
22:37But this, while it is a significant step into the relative unknown,
22:41it could also be a significant step forward if fans can get this right.
22:48But Pools fans, it's part of football that supporters are going to see things differently,
22:52whether that matters on or off the pitch.
22:55But I think that a measure of calm and togetherness would obviously be a really helpful thing.
23:05I think some of the divisions just comes from a natural frustration,
23:09given the way that the football has gone this season and in the seasons prior to that as well.
23:16But clearly there are supporters and supporters groups who see things differently.
23:21But the fans, I think, have to be one of the biggest selling points.
23:25Yes, there are some divisions now, but I believe that the fans will come back together
23:29and get right behind this team if things start to move in a more positive direction.
23:35Look, the new owners are not necessarily going to be Hollywood superstars or oil billionaires.
23:42But I think there are things that Pools could do to improve,
23:47even if the budget is not going to double or triple or whatever like that,
23:51if Pools are not going to be able to buy their way out of the National League.
23:54I think more ambition, a clearer vision, better communication, a better sense of direction.
24:02Yeah, the pitch needs to improve. The footballing identity, I think, could definitely improve.
24:08You're not going to get every decision right,
24:10but I think Pools have got more decisions wrong than they have right in the last few seasons.
24:14And that's been really significant. As I've said before, speaking to you, Rich,
24:19that there are teams with far smaller fan bases than Hartlepool United,
24:23who are far more successful than them at the minute because they make a lot of sensible decisions,
24:28pragmatic decisions. They get things right.
24:31At the moment, it's hard to see Pools moving forward with the current state of things.
24:38Perhaps they might be able to maintain their National League position,
24:43but I don't think that that's really the summit of fans' ambitions.
24:49There's been a real sense of malaise, a real sense of regression, a real sense,
24:53to be honest, that something has gone really wrong at Hartlepool United.
24:58And it felt like watching Pools in recent weeks, it's going to be really difficult to turn that around.
25:04I think a change could well be a good thing, daunting as it might be,
25:09because the one thing that I'm sure all fans will be able to agree on is that we would love
25:14to have the days of 2021, 2022 back when the atmosphere was fantastic,
25:21probably the best in the league. We had some fantastic away days,
25:25obviously the memorable trip to Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
25:28The fan base was really united. There was a real connection between the management,
25:33the staff, the players and the supporters. And I know we say it all the time, but that's massive.
25:38I think supporters have done really well this season to stick with their team.
25:42They've continued to travel in their numbers. And I speak to some fans, Rich,
25:47fans of years and years, decades and decades.
25:51They've been staying away this season, either because they're dissatisfied with the football,
25:57they're dissatisfied with the direction of travel, or maybe as a point of principle,
26:01that can't be right, Rich, that cannot be right.
26:04After all, fans are the heartbeat of the football club.
26:07They're what make this place so special. I think Pools have lost a bit of their heart and soul.
26:12To me, it's always been the heart and the soul, the people, the grit,
26:16the determination that has defined Hartlepool United.
26:19If you can tap back into that, then this club's still got massive potential.
26:23Yeah, I think that's a fair point. It'll be interesting to see what the crowd is on Saturday
26:28because I think there's a fair chunk of fans who have been staying away.
26:31I know certainly one or two who might be coming back with Raj Singh stepping down as chairman,
26:35although obviously he still owns the club, so you'd imagine he'll still have a significant say.
26:40I think it's fair to say we're still waiting on details of the interim board that's due to be appointed in the meantime.
26:47Raj Singh did reference, with the latest fan meeting a couple of weeks back,
26:51that there wasn't particularly a sale price above the club,
26:56but obviously Raj Singh will have a fee in mind of how much he wants back when he comes to selling the club.
27:02So we'll wait and see what developments take place on that front over the next couple of weeks or so
27:06and those parties that are interested in whether they can secure a deal with the Pools owner.
27:13So yeah, plenty to keep our fingers crossed for in a couple of weeks.
27:17Just a quick one to finish, Robbie.
27:18Just looking ahead at the game against Solihull Movers Saturday.
27:21Lindbergh has changed the team several times, almost on a weekly basis.
27:26I think there was, how many changes was it last weekend? Was it five?
27:30What kind of team do you think he'll put out on Saturday?
27:36And you know, how much pressure is on him to win this game as well?
27:42I think there is pressure, Rich. It is going to be really interesting to see what sort of crowd there is.
27:47I think some fans will still feel that they are dissatisfied until the actual change goes through.
27:54Because as you say, the resignation from the chairmanship is more symbolic, I think.
27:59It's when the club, or if the club, actually changes hands.
28:03That's going to be when I think a lot of fans will start to look to the future.
28:09Look, Pools have got 45 points. I'd suggest they need to get 52 or 53 to make certain of the National League.
28:15The status Boreham Wood went down last season with 52.
28:19This next block of fixtures is going to be really important.
28:22Pools are at home to Solihull Movers, who have had a similar trajectory actually to themselves in the last couple of months.
28:28Since they lost manager Andy Wing to Barrow, Matt Tame has come in and he's had a difficult start.
28:33They've fallen away as well, and fans are pretty frustrated there too.
28:41Pools then host Ebbsfleet, who are bottom, Boston United, who are second bottom, and they go to Halifax as well in between those two games.
28:50If you look at their end of the season, I think they've got Gateshead, Forest Green, Rochdale and Oldham.
28:55All sides challenging for the playoffs at the very least.
28:58So that's going to be a really difficult end to the campaign.
29:02The one thing you don't want to do is you don't want to go into those final four matches still needing points to secure the National League status.
29:08Of course, Pools will finish so they can go and get something from all of those games.
29:12But you don't want to leave it to chance.
29:14I think you've got to make the most of a run of winnable games here.
29:18Lindbergh is notoriously difficult to predict when it comes to team selection.
29:24I've certainly been feeling the heat of that, Rich, when it comes to my predicted 11s.
29:28Again, he surprised us a bit by going back to the 3-5-2.
29:33I've said in the past I would really like to see him pin his colours to the mast and say, this is my best team.
29:39I will change things occasionally, but I want to give a set of 11 players a run in the side.
29:46Because watching them on Saturday against Eastley, while there was some positive signs, it looked a bit like a side that had rarely played together.
29:56Personal relationships, whether it's in midfield, defence or attack, are really important when it comes to football.
30:03Pools haven't really been given the chance to establish those personal relationships.
30:07I think that's been telling, especially when you switch to a three at the back.
30:11That can be difficult for defenders watching them in Hampshire.
30:14There were times where the centre-backs didn't quite know whether to go and commit themselves or whether to drop off.
30:19There were times when one went, another didn't.
30:21It was a little bit disjointed, and that's only natural because they haven't played together very much at all.
30:26I would imagine that Lindbergh would be keen to settle things down recently.
30:31He'd point out that Pools have had plenty of injuries, skipping Luke Waterford, Tom Parks, Nathan Sherham was suspended.
30:37Joe Gray has obviously only recently come back.
30:40Dan Dodds, he had a knock to the head and then he hurt his hamstring at the weekend.
30:47Jack Robinson, another one.
30:49There have been a number of enforced changes, but there have also been a number of tactical ones too.
30:56I think there were some promising combinations last weekend.
30:59Manny Disirue and Joe Gray, we know all about the partnership that the two of them have.
31:03They started up front for the first time in a long time.
31:06Jamie Minley and Nathan Sherham started in the heart of midfield for the first time since Minley's arrival from Newcastle.
31:12Many fans would suggest that that is the best midfield that Pools have at their disposal.
31:16Sherham obviously does a lot of the destructive work.
31:18He's a really good ball winner.
31:20Minley is more purposeful and forward-thinking with his passing.
31:24And the back three has really chopped and changed.
31:28Luke Waterford is going to be touch and go.
31:31We're told obviously Tom Parks is pretty much a certainty.
31:35There will be some changes.
31:36It doesn't look like Dan Dodds is going to make it.
31:38So I'd imagine Louis Stevenson will probably come back in at right wing back.
31:42But other than that, I would expect it to be a more similar side than we have seen in recent weeks.
31:47And I think that that could only be a good thing.
31:49A settled side, Rich, is usually a sign of a successful side.
31:52You look at when a manager starts to make lots of changes, they're obviously grappling for a solution because things aren't quite working.
31:59It's important to be unpredictable, but not so unpredictable that it looks like players are not quite sure what they're meant to be doing,
32:05where they're meant to be, and those kind of things.
32:08So I think it's important that, yes, there might be changes.
32:12Lindbergh inevitably is trying to make things work.
32:15The Eagles haven't won for a long time.
32:17He wants to find the winning formula.
32:19But I think perhaps the winning formula could be simply a bit more stability.
32:23And I'm hoping we'll see that at the weekend.
32:25Good stuff. Thanks, Robbie.
32:26So Hartlepool's solid home wins this Saturday and Boston United at home the following Saturday.
32:31So two home wins would do a lot to ease a lot of pressure at pools, I think, certainly in the short term.
32:37For the latest takeover sale news, then head to the Mail's website throughout the next couple of weeks and pick up a copy of Hartlepool Mail on a Thursday.
32:48Thanks for your time, Robbie, and we'll meet again next week.
32:51Cheers.