Join Robbie Stelling and Rich Mennear on the latest episode of the Poolie Podcast as they discuss Hartlepool United’s recent good form, Sam Folarin’s late winner v Ebbsfleet United and what Anthony Limbrick's side can do between now and the end of the Vanarama National League season.
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01:00Yeah, it was a bit of a nervy few weeks, rightly so, I think, given the form and the performances of Pools, but to be fair to them, they've turned it around impressively.
01:07And we'll get into the nitty gritty of the last three wins shortly.
01:11We'll also discuss the latest takeover situation following the update of sorts on Friday afternoon.
01:18With Pools fans waiting with bated breath for some significant news on that front.
01:23And, yeah, we'll dive into the latest sort of team engine news.
01:27A word on Cleary as well, I think.
01:29And Anthony Lindbergh as well.
01:30So plenty to discuss for the next 20 minutes or so.
01:34Just kick off with the weekend result then over an already relegated Epsolite.
01:38Robbie, Pools got there in the end.
01:41How did you see the game?
01:43And just sort of briefly overall in terms of, you know, three wins on the trot is great.
01:48But realistically, do you think Pools actually have a chance of sneaking a playoff spot with games ticking down?
01:54It's funny, isn't it, Rich?
01:55Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about the threat of relegation.
01:59And now all of a sudden, we're dreaming of the playoffs.
02:02I mean, it's still a possibility.
02:03It's still a mathematical possibility.
02:05But I would suggest it's a very distant one.
02:08You probably wouldn't give them more than about a 5% chance.
02:12I think they'd have to win all of their remaining five games.
02:15The gap currently stands at six points, but Pools are in 11th.
02:19So there's a number of teams vying for those last couple of playoff spots.
02:25I think there are some things that work in Pools' favour in that regard.
02:29Obviously, they're in a decent vein of form.
02:32Five games unbeaten now, including, as you say, three successive wins.
02:35First time they've done that since the beginning of last season.
02:39They also have to play Oldham, Rochdale and Gates.
02:44It's sad now, Oldham are 11 points clear.
02:46Although they've lost their last two, I think they're probably going to be out of sight.
02:50But Gateshead and Rochdale are both just about within striking distance.
02:54So there's a potential of a six-point swing there.
02:56Although, of course, Pools have got to get the job done and beat them.
03:00And that's obviously by no means a foregone conclusion.
03:03They're clearly going to be difficult games.
03:05I think if you look at the running of some of the other teams as well, there are some difficult run-ins.
03:10Gateshead have still got to play York and Forest Green.
03:15So have, I think, Oldham.
03:18There are some difficult run-ins, without a doubt.
03:21I think Halifax have got a pretty favourable run-in.
03:24But Halifax are one of a number of teams that are out of form at the minute.
03:28You look at those sides in the top seven.
03:31I think Oldham have only won two of their last 12.
03:33Halifax haven't won any of their last five.
03:37They've only scored one goal in that time.
03:39Gateshead won at the weekend.
03:41Got past Dagenham and Rebridge, who Pools obviously play on Saturday.
03:45But they've lost six of their previous seven matches.
03:48So there are signs that a number of the teams in and around the top seven are starting to falter,
03:54or indeed are already faltering.
03:55So Pools might hope to take advantage of that.
03:59It's going to be a long shot, isn't it?
04:01But I suppose the positive is that at least Pools are just about on the fringes of the conversation.
04:07That's something that I think most fans wouldn't have believed four or six weeks ago
04:11when it was hard to see where the next win was coming from.
04:14Three wins.
04:15As Anthony Lindbergh said, all different types of wins.
04:18That win over Boston, which looks a better and better result with every passing week.
04:24They came from behind to win again.
04:26On Tuesday night and are now out of the relegation zone.
04:30They've won nine of their last 16 National League games.
04:33But Pools dispatched them pretty comfortably.
04:35And it was a really impressive performance.
04:36I think certainly the best performance since Anthony Lindbergh replaced Lenny Lawrence.
04:43They obviously scored four goals and they were dominant as well.
04:46I think it was probably one of the first times where we've seen them really assert themselves on a game.
04:51Halifax was a different type of performance.
04:53On a really difficult pitch at the Shea, I think Pools adapted to the conditions far better than Halifax did.
05:00In Manny Deseroye and Gary Medin, they've obviously got two formidable and powerful strikers.
05:05That allowed them to go longer a lot more than Halifax, who actually played with two number tens and didn't have the option really to go long and therefore negate the difficult pitch.
05:15And on Saturday against Ebsfleet, I think it was certainly the least impressive of those three performances.
05:21Pools actually were a bit lucky to win the game, but they won the game.
05:26How often do we say that good sides win when they're not playing well?
05:29Certainly they had a few decisions go in their favour.
05:31I think Josh Wright, the Ebsfleet manager, was particularly frustrated with one when it looked as though Tom Parks had handled the ball in the area.
05:38That probably would have been a penalty and a red card had the referee seen it, and that would have potentially changed the game in the visitors' favour.
05:46Obviously, it took a 94th-minute goal from Sam Falar and his first Pools goal, and hopefully a positive moment for him to win the game.
05:54Pools struggled to really get a foothold in the game at times.
05:59It was one of those, I think, that a lot of fans felt that it was a foregone conclusion even before kick-off.
06:04Ebsfleet obviously relegated last month, only won two of 41 National League games, albeit one of those was against Pools in the reverse in September,
06:13and arrived at the Prestige Boop Stadium not having won any of their 20 away league games, losing 14 and drawing six of those.
06:21They had loads of injuries as well.
06:23They only named five substitutes, which included manager Josh Wright, who retired from playing in December and a backup goalkeeper.
06:31But they gave a pretty decent account of themselves following a long and hard season.
06:34I think they have shown signs of improvement under Josh Wright, who I really liked as a player and I think speaks really well.
06:41They worked hard.
06:43They battled hard.
06:44They were reasonably organised.
06:45And in Aaron Cosgrove, their powerful number nine, they posed a bit of a threat as well.
06:50Pools, I think, will have been frustrated with the manner of the goals they conceded.
06:54They failed to deal with a corner, allowing Ebsfleet to equalise six minutes into the second half.
06:59They struck back pretty quickly.
07:01Manny Disaroui fired them back in front three minutes later.
07:04But then they switched off a through ball, unlocked the entire defence.
07:07Cosgrove rounded Adam Smith.
07:09And for the final 20 minutes or so, it looked as though the game was going to end in a draw.
07:15Credit where it's due to Anthony Lindbergh, although it certainly wasn't an inspiring performance.
07:19The one thing he does do is always make attacking changes, even when the game is in the balance.
07:24That's not always worked in his favour.
07:26He made similar sort of changes against older shots.
07:30And Pools conceded an added time goal to lose the game.
07:35And 3-2, this time the shoe was on the other foot and Sam Falarin, rather fortuitously stolen after Reyes Cleary's cross,
07:41had rebounded off a couple of unsuspecting Ebsfleet defenders and headed home the winner.
07:48I think, although it wasn't a great performance, Rich, it was perhaps a game that Pools would have failed to win six to eight weeks ago.
07:55They deserve credit for sticking to their task, for not giving up, for not letting their heads drop.
08:00And in the end, all that really matters is the fact that they've won three games in a row, three different types of wins.
08:07As I said, things are starting to look up again.
08:10Yeah, it's been an impressive turnaround.
08:13There was, you know, understandable and warranted pressure on Anthony Lindbergh.
08:17I think after he got his eight games, I think, without a win, four defeats on the spin at one point.
08:21But credit to him, credit to the Pools players.
08:23You could argue it's easier when there's not so much pressure on, because when the run started,
08:31OK, they needed to win to pull away from the bottom four.
08:34But then after that, the pressure was lifted, because in reality, they were safe from relegation.
08:38They were too far from the playoffs.
08:39Does it, you know, is it reflected in the squad that they can produce wins when the pressure's off?
08:44Or do you think it was just a confidence thing?
08:47I guess we'll see that the next five games or so, because the more they keep winning,
08:51there will be a bit of pressure, because, you know, the edge is a bit further to the playoffs,
08:55and they might have a real chance in the end.
08:57But would you put the turnaround down to Anthony Lindbergh?
09:00Because I started, and he just said it was basically, they didn't change too much.
09:04They kept with the same processes, the same quality of work.
09:07Do you think him making less changes as well has made an impact?
09:11Yeah, absolutely.
09:13I mean, I think it was probably more a confidence thing than anything, Rich, that eight-game winless run.
09:19I mean, I think you're right that in the last couple of matches, there hasn't been any pressure.
09:22But that game against Boston felt like a really significant game.
09:26As we've said, if Pools had lost that game, they would have been six points ahead of Boston
09:31and would have been right in a potentially a relegation dogfight.
09:35So I think there was pressure on that game.
09:39I think often it does take time.
09:41Sometimes fans expect that so-called new manager bounce.
09:44And obviously, Lindbergh won his first game in charge against Sutton,
09:48but of course had been at the club for three months prior to taking over from Lenny Orens.
09:53So perhaps was already implementing his own ideas and his own stamp on the side.
09:59So perhaps that new manager bounce was reduced to an extent in that regard.
10:04Look, I think he made too many changes in the opening weeks of the season, sorry, of his tenure.
10:11He's certainly a proactive manager.
10:13He likes to try and influence the game, whether that's through his team selection,
10:18whether that's through tactical changes in the game or through his substitutions,
10:23which I think is something that he's done really well.
10:26I mean, I think he deserves credit because although I think he made some mistakes at the beginning of his tenure
10:33in terms of changing the team too often, chopping and changing the formation,
10:38a couple of questionable selection decisions as well.
10:40Leif Reyes Cleary on the bench for the defeat to Fylde,
10:43left Manny Disarue on the bench for three games in a row.
10:47I think he's actually handled a really difficult situation pretty well.
10:51It's often forgotten that Pools hadn't won any of their four games prior to him replacing Lenny Lawrence,
10:56that they'd lost Joe Gray and Anthony Mancini, who had been so influential earlier on in the campaign.
11:02So he did inherit the reins at a difficult time.
11:04And of course, that's been made even more complicated by the resignation of Raj Singh last month.
11:10Of course, Limbrick's understandable message is that he is focusing on the football
11:14and that that applies to the players as well.
11:17And of course, that's true to a certain extent.
11:19But I think given the number of Pools players who are out of contract this summer,
11:23given the number of high-profile Pools players who are out of contract this summer,
11:27it's hard to imagine that that has not somewhat impacted them
11:30because, of course, they'll want to know where they're going to be playing next season,
11:34where they're going to be living next season, et cetera, et cetera.
11:37So I imagine that that has been a factor that he has had to carefully manage.
11:41Of course, he's been bombarded with questions about that as well,
11:46even if he's not necessarily the man who should be answering them all.
11:50And I think he's handled himself really, really well.
11:53I get the sense that fans are really warming to him.
11:57Obviously, results help.
11:59But I think his genuine desire to do well, his passion and his sincerity,
12:04as well has really helped in terms of establishing that relationship.
12:10We've said it all season, Rich.
12:11I think Pools have a pretty decent squad and have generally underperformed.
12:15I think you can put that down to a number of factors.
12:18The pitch certainly hasn't helped, although there are plenty of questionable pitches
12:21at this level, as we saw with Halifax, which is far worse than the prestige group stadium.
12:27I think instability has probably been the defining factor in why Pools have underperformed this season.
12:34A lot of the players probably had the rug pulled from underneath them at the end of last term
12:38when Kevin Phillips was suddenly replaced by Darren Song, an entirely different manager,
12:42both in terms of personality and approach.
12:47Song, I think, only lasted 15 games, then was replaced by Lenny Lawrence, again, an entirely different character.
12:53And then the change between Lenny Lawrence and Limbrick, which we expected to happen probably in the summer,
12:58again, that felt really sudden and unexpected.
13:00So I don't think that lack of stability has helped.
13:04Of course, you can't just blame it all on a lack of stability.
13:07I think players have underperformed for a number of reasons.
13:13Perhaps the changes in personal and shape haven't helped.
13:16I think confidence has been an issue as well.
13:19There's a lot of pressure on Hartlepool United players, particularly at this level,
13:22because anything other really than a promotion push is seen as a failure.
13:26So it can be really difficult.
13:29But I think this squad has the makings of a good squad.
13:32I think we've seen that in recent weeks.
13:34Of course, the challenge, whatever happens between now and the end of the season,
13:37and we imagine that Pools are going to be in the National League again next season,
13:41is to keep some of that core group together and try and avoid another summer of complete rebuilding.
13:47And that's going to be potentially difficult at this stage,
13:49especially given some of the off-field issues.
13:51But there clearly is a decent squad here.
13:53I mean, you look throughout, they've got vast experience,
13:56probably at times a little bit too much experience.
13:59I think certainly prior to the January arrivals of Jamie Minley and Sam Falar and Reyes Cleary,
14:04they were a little bit sluggish at times and loads of players over 30.
14:08We've talked about that in the past.
14:10But they've got players proven at this level and levels far higher than this as well.
14:16So I think there is a good squad there.
14:18It's just been unlocking the best of them.
14:20And we haven't seen that often enough this season, unfortunately.
14:22Yeah, those three players you mentioned have certainly had an impact in the last few weeks,
14:26none more so than Cleary on loan from West Brom.
14:29I know Lindbergh was asked to post-match the chances of keeping him for next season.
14:35Fair to say, he probably skated around it a little bit,
14:37but no doubt he would love to have him, or whoever the next Pilsmanger is,
14:39would love to have him, if it's not to be Lindbergh,
14:42and the hopeful new owners.
14:44I'm sure whoever is in charge next season would love to have Cleary as part of the squad.
14:49But he does look quite the player, doesn't he?
14:51Probably, you would say, deserves a push a bit higher up the EFL pyramid next season.
14:58Yeah, it's an interesting one.
15:00The first thing I'd just say there, Rich, is I really do believe that Lindbergh has done enough
15:04to warrant leading the team next season, whoever that is making the decisions.
15:09I think he's navigated a really difficult spell really well,
15:12and I think fans are beginning to warm to him.
15:14So I certainly hope he's the man we see in the dugout next season.
15:18Whether he's going to be able to pick Cleary, well, you'd certainly suggest that that would be unlikely.
15:23Actually, from looking at the response to the article we did on the possibility of Cleary staying next season,
15:30I think a couple of fans pointed out that potentially the likeliest route
15:33is if he were to earn a new contract at West Brom and then come back on loan.
15:37You would imagine that if that were to happen, if he were to earn a new contract at West Brom,
15:43he's out of contract this season, but he's said before that he wants to earn a new deal at the Hawthorns.
15:47That's his primary aim at the moment.
15:51I think if West Brom were to send him on loan, they'd probably favour a football league move.
15:55Obviously, he spent the first half of this season on loan at Walsall
15:59and really struggled to make much of an impact there.
16:01I think only three substitute appearances in League Two,
16:03albeit for a Walsall side who, despite a difficult run of late,
16:07were really flying at the beginning of the season.
16:10I think we're 10 points clear at the top of League Two at one stage.
16:13We spoke to Cleary about that.
16:15He really had no problem with the fact that he wasn't able to break into such a successful and winning side.
16:20That's sometimes just how football works.
16:23He's clearly a vastly talented player, isn't he?
16:25He's the archetypal sort of bums-off-seats style player.
16:30Whenever he gets the ball, you feel that collective intake of breath
16:33from Pools fans, he really always looks like he's going to try and make something happen.
16:39He's full of inventiveness.
16:40He's full of skill.
16:42He's full of flair.
16:43I think something that's probably gone unnoticed is that he does his defensive work
16:47really diligently as well because, of course, he's been played as a wing-back
16:51when throughout his fledgling career so far,
16:53he's operated either as a winger or a central striker sometimes for West Brom
16:57in the Premier League Two.
16:59As well, I think David Ferguson deserves credit for how well he's handled him
17:04in his new left centre-back role.
17:07They have a really good relationship on the pitch.
17:10When Pools have the ball, they almost go to a flat-back four.
17:13They've obviously got Louis Stevenson on the other side as the right-wing-back.
17:15He tucks in as a right full-back and Cleary pushes right up
17:20and becomes what is, in effect, a winger.
17:23You would imagine that if he doesn't earn a new deal at West Brom,
17:27and personally, obviously, we'd love to see him earn a new deal.
17:30I know that as Pools fans, of course, we'd love to see him at Victoria Park again next season,
17:34but he's a really good lad and he's obviously done some great things for Pools.
17:37Four goals in his last five games and five and 15 in total since he signed in January.
17:44But it would be great to see West Brom give him a new contract.
17:47He's certainly done his case no harm over the last few months.
17:51But if he doesn't, you would imagine that his form has put some football league clubs on high alert.
17:57I think he certainly won't have any shortage of suitors.
18:00So it feels like a tall order to keep Cleary in the North East again next season.
18:08Of course, he's from the West Midlands as well, so that might play a factor.
18:13Although it's not a massive distance,
18:15he is some way away from home and is still only a young man.
18:19So it probably remains to be seen what's going to happen.
18:22But I would be surprised if Pools were able to keep him beyond this season.
18:27They say never fall in love with a loan player, don't they, Rich?
18:29I think it's safe to say most Pools fans are falling head over heels.
18:33With Cleary, I think you think back to recent loan acquisitions.
18:37Dan Kemp and Tyler Burey and Luke Armstrong,
18:39they've had a similar sort of impact,
18:41but Cleary is certainly right at the top in terms of loan signings in recent memory.
18:46He certainly is.
18:47Hopefully it'll be a positive end of his chapter of Pools
18:50by getting them in a sneaky playoff place, but we shall see.
18:53I think we'll end the pod, Robbie, with the latest takeover situation.
18:57So just be prior to getting to that.
18:59Quick word on Spenny Mowat.
19:01Congratulations to Graeme Lee.
19:04Mark Simpson, a few other Pools connections, obviously, at Spenny Mowat.
19:07With them getting to Wembley, we wish them well.
19:10And just looking ahead to the weekend, Robbie,
19:13before we get on to the takeover situation,
19:15Dagan and Redbridge, Anthony Briggs,
19:16due to do his press conference on Thursday.
19:19We're recording this on Wednesday.
19:22Would you expect the same again in terms of team formation system,
19:25or what's the latest team news from Pools?
19:29Yeah, you would think so, Rich.
19:30I mean, I'd first of all echo your congratulations to Graeme Lee
19:33and Spenny Mowat.
19:35Fantastic achievement.
19:36Obviously, we'd love for them to go on and win it,
19:39but no doubt, whatever happens,
19:40it's going to be a fantastic day out and thoroughly well-deserved.
19:44Because like you say, Graeme Lee, I think,
19:45is really one of the best men in football.
19:48He was probably given a bit of a raw deal at Pools.
19:51Obviously, he had to follow Dave Challoner,
19:53but had some considerable achievements in his short tenure.
19:56He was obviously in the dugout when Pools reached the fourth round
20:00of the FA Cup, played Crystal Palace,
20:02and of course, the semifinals of the EFL Trophy
20:04and helped to keep them in the Football League as well.
20:08I think most fans now, on reflection,
20:10would have liked to see Pools put a little bit more faith in him.
20:13But a fantastic man, a fantastic family,
20:15and Spenny Mowat, a great club, like you say,
20:17Simo and a number of other Pools connections.
20:19So delighted.
20:20For them, fantastic achievement.
20:24For Pools this weekend, I would imagine it'll be more of the same.
20:27I think in terms of selection, obviously, Tom Parks came off at the weekend,
20:32was replaced by Luke Waterfall.
20:34Anthony Lindbergh said on Saturday that there wasn't any major concern there.
20:38And I think we know that Tom Parks is a real trooper.
20:41He will play even if he's got a bit of a knock or a niggle.
20:44So I'd imagine we'll see him in the heart of the defence.
20:46Again, he's been really influential in recent weeks.
20:50One fantastic piece of defending against Halifax
20:53when he managed to clear the ball with his head,
20:54despite being stricken on the floor.
20:57He is really a bodies-on-the-line type defender
20:59and a contender, probably along with Nathan Sharon,
21:02for the player of the season.
21:03Award, I think, may be the one selection decision
21:05that Lindbergh may have to make.
21:07Do you reward Sam Folarin for his first Pools goal with a start?
21:12I spoke to Lindbergh about where he sees his best position.
21:15Obviously, he's sort of renowned as a winger,
21:17but actually has played as a lone striker before at Harrogate.
21:20But both Lindbergh and Sam Folarin were telling us on Saturday
21:23that he likes to play as that second striker.
21:26And obviously, Manny Disarue and Gary Medin
21:28are ideally suited to playing as that more physically imposing
21:34out-and-out number nine.
21:36So it could be that Lindbergh decides to give Folarin a start
21:39with either Disarue or Medin.
21:42He's been working really hard on the training ground
21:44over the last few weeks, particularly with Gavin Skelton as well,
21:48because I think when he came, he lacked a bit of match sharpness.
21:51You've probably seen that in some of his early performances.
21:53Only started two games for Pools since arriving in January.
21:57Didn't start that many for Harrogate either earlier on in the season.
22:01But if he's sharp enough and if he's fit enough,
22:03then I wouldn't be altogether surprised to see Lindbergh
22:05throw him in from the start.
22:07Obviously, it gives Pools another option in an attacking sense as well
22:10with his really impressive pace.
22:12Other than that, I think it'll be more of the same, Rich.
22:15And as you said, that's probably been a positive
22:17that Lindbergh's been able to name a settled side.
22:21Saturday was the first time he's named an unchanged team
22:23in his 12th game as Pools' boss.
22:25I think that was significant.
22:26And I think he might well do the same again.
22:28But Sam van Lauren probably merits consideration as well.
22:31Good stuff.
22:33Yeah, just the last few minutes or so,
22:35then we'll just end with the latest takeover situation.
22:38Obviously, as you say, it's been four or five weeks,
22:40I think, since Raj Singh announced he was stepping down as chairman.
22:44The club very much up for sale.
22:47Communication quite quickly to say that there was interested parties.
22:51And obviously, that's been ticking along.
22:54Fair bit of it, obviously, behind closed doors
22:56and confidential, as it should be.
22:57There was an update again, though, on Friday from the interim board.
23:02Basically, regarding the current situation,
23:04I won't go over the full statement, I'm sure.
23:06But I know every Pools fan in the world has read it.
23:10And, yeah, the way it just goes on, Robbie, it could...
23:13You know, there was a few positives in there
23:15that at least there are interested parties in terms of plural.
23:19We know, obviously, of the interest of the group
23:22that were formed on Companies House a week or so ago.
23:27With Shelley Hammond's group.
23:30Yeah, how would you see the latest situation?
23:32Just a case of wait and see for the Pools fans?
23:35Yeah, I would think so.
23:37It felt like a bit of a mixed bag, the update on Friday, didn't it?
23:39I mean, I think the first thing to say is
23:41the interim board do deserve credit
23:43for trying to be as transparent as they can.
23:47Like everyone connected with Hartlepool United,
23:49it's probably a slightly uncertain time for them.
23:51I think the first update that they put out
23:53in the wake of Raj Singh's resignation
23:55was a really good one.
23:57It was really commendable.
23:58It was measured.
23:59It was realistic, but it was optimistic.
24:02It was sensibly worded.
24:04It was reassuring.
24:05And I think that that was exactly what Pools fans needed
24:07at that time.
24:09I think last week, probably they felt like
24:11they needed to communicate something,
24:13even though there wasn't necessarily that much
24:15that they were in a position to communicate.
24:18Obviously, the significant thing was that they'd said
24:21acceptable offers, like you say,
24:24emphasis on the plural as well.
24:26But the admission that there have been offers
24:27that are deemed acceptable,
24:29I think is very significant.
24:31Previously, Raj Singh has tended to label
24:33pretty much anyone who has an interest
24:35in the purchase of Hartlepool United as time wasters.
24:38So again, that suggests that he is probably more sincere
24:41in his desire to hand over control of the club
24:44than he has been at any other time
24:46in the last two years since he first put the club up
24:48for sale in April 2023.
24:51Obviously, something that got a lot of Pools fans talking
24:53was the suggestion that proof of funds
24:56have not yet been deposited.
24:59Clearly, that is significant.
25:00Clearly, that's something that needs to happen
25:02if this takeover deal is going to progress.
25:06I can understand why it caused a degree of panic.
25:09What I would say is that providing proof of funds
25:12is obviously different to depositing proof of funds.
25:17I think the first step would be to provide the proof of funds.
25:20I'm confident that that has already happened.
25:22The next step is the deposit of funds.
25:25And obviously, there's a legal element
25:27that that has to progress through before that can happen.
25:30So just because it hasn't happened yet
25:31doesn't mean that it's not going to happen or imminent.
25:34So I wouldn't necessarily worry about that too much.
25:37I believe that there's every chance the takeover
25:41will be completed before the end of the season.
25:43That's clearly what everyone seems to be targeting.
25:47Raj Singh obviously says he will stop funding the club
25:49at the end of the campaign.
25:51Pools will obviously want to get a takeover completed
25:53sooner rather than later for a whole host of reasons,
25:57not least just to secure the future as quickly as possible.
26:01That's obviously first and foremost
26:03at the forefront of everyone's minds at the minute.
26:05But of course, if you want to take a longer-term view,
26:08it's going to be significant in terms of next season.
26:12You want to have as long as you can, I think,
26:14to sort out the pitch.
26:15And you certainly want to have as long as you can
26:17to sort out the playing squad
26:18because a number of really high-profile players,
26:21Joe Gray, Manny Disarue, Gary Medin, Nathan Sharon,
26:25are all out of contract
26:27or are certainly not known to have signed new contracts.
26:31And I think you want to give yourself
26:32the best possible chance of trying to keep
26:34some of those players, as we've said before
26:36in this discussion,
26:37Pools do have a core group of players.
26:39I think those players have all played
26:41significant roles this season.
26:43You'd love to try and keep as many of them
26:45as you possibly can.
26:46And obviously, if you can get a deal completed
26:48before the end of the season,
26:49then that gives you time potentially
26:51to table a renewed contract offer.
26:54And that might sway their decision.
26:56Obviously, if you can't get it completed
26:58before the end of the season,
27:00which we're certainly hoping they will be able to do,
27:02then I think players could be forgiven
27:04for looking elsewhere as much as anything
27:05because they want to support,
27:07they want to secure their futures.
27:09They've got families,
27:10they've got livelihoods
27:11that need to be taken care of as well.
27:13So I think it'd be difficult to begrudge them that
27:15if that were to be the case.
27:17But I believe that the ambition is
27:19that the takeover will be completed
27:21before the end of the season.
27:22At this stage, I see no reason
27:24why that can't happen.
27:25And obviously, that's going to be really exciting
27:27and positive for Pools fans.
27:30If it does happen, as we've discussed,
27:32Raj Singh certainly has had some achievements,
27:35but probably in a footballing sense,
27:36there's a feeling of stagnation
27:39over the last couple of years
27:41since relegation from the National League.
27:43There's certainly a division
27:44between the ownership and the fans.
27:47As well, there'll be plenty of work
27:49for whoever it is that does come in to take over,
27:52but there is a core group of which to build upon.
27:55I think there's a manager in Anthony Limbrick
27:58who has proven that he deserves an opportunity
28:00to lead the team beyond this season.
28:03And of course, as we so often say, Rich,
28:05there's a fantastic fan base,
28:07more than 4,000 fans in attendance.
28:09Again, on Saturday, more than 500 fans at Halifax,
28:12which I thought was an astounding effort.
28:15Some really good atmospheres,
28:16celebrations at the end of games
28:17that I think will hark back to better times
28:20for many Pools fans as well.
28:22So it remains a club with considerable potential.
28:25Lots of work to be done,
28:26but considerable potential nonetheless.
28:28So let's hope it's going to be an exciting future
28:31for Hartlepool United.
28:33Indeed, hopefully so.
28:34Head to the Hartlepool Mail website
28:36for the latest takeover updates over the coming weeks.
28:39Grab yourself a copy of the paper every Thursday,
28:41and Robbie will be at Dagenham on Saturday
28:44to hopefully report on Hartlepool United's fourth win
28:48on the spin as we push towards the playoff push.
28:51But we shall see.
28:51We'll certainly catch up again next week.
28:54Thanks for your time, Robbie,
28:55and catch you on next week.
28:56Cheers.
28:56Cheers.
28:57Cheers.
28:58Cheers.
28:59Cheers.
29:00Cheers.
29:01Cheers.
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29:03Cheers.
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29:05Cheers.
29:06Cheers.
29:07Cheers.
29:08Cheers.
29:09Cheers.
29:10Cheers.
29:11Cheers.
29:12Cheers.
29:13Cheers.
29:14Cheers.
29:15Cheers.
29:16Cheers.
29:17Cheers.
29:18Cheers.
29:19Cheers.
29:20Cheers.
29:21Cheers.
29:22Cheers.
29:23Cheers.