- 20/05/2025
Robbie Stelling and Rich Mennear as they discuss all the latest news surrounding Hartlepool United, including the latest on the takeover situation and all the latest contract news with an important deadline coming later this week.
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02:16So, yeah, Robbie, what did you make of the update?
02:19I guess a couple of months in, is it a concern that that deadline was missed by the potential
02:24owners?
02:25How do you see things?
02:26Well, it's definitely a concern that the deadline has passed.
02:31I'm not sure that necessarily missed by the new owners is the way that I would phrase it.
02:37I think clearly there's still a little bit of work to be done and I think all fans would agree that they would have liked to have the deal completed by now for all sorts of reasons.
02:49Obviously, the longer it drags on, there are going to be plentiful concerns, not least the fact that there will presumably be some bills to be paid.
02:59Of course, you would imagine that the players have another month's wages to be paid at the end of this month as well.
03:05So that is obviously something of a concern.
03:07Clearly it's a positive that Raj Singh is prepared to fund some things over the next couple of weeks.
03:15As you said, the pitch, which is certainly in need of a bit of TLC, isn't it?
03:20Obviously a big talking point throughout the season.
03:23And certainly it wasn't really in the condition to allow Pools to play the sort of football that they maybe would have liked, particularly under Anthony Limbrick.
03:30Some of the technical players, the likes of Adam Campbell, I think really suffered due to the poor condition of the pitch.
03:37There's obviously a footballing concern about the fact that the takeover is dragging on.
03:43And I think it's fair to say at this stage that it is dragging on.
03:46I think Raj completed his takeover of the club in about three weeks, certainly three weeks from the time that he established Clarence 18 on Companies House.
03:56I think the club HUFC Limited, which is obviously linked to the current takeover, appeared about a month and a half ago now.
04:04So there is clearly a bit of time that's being taken.
04:08So that's obviously a potential concern.
04:11And of course, purely from the point of view of the playing squad, Pools would obviously like to get some of their star players tied down to new deals.
04:18Obviously, Manny Disrui, Joe Gray and Nathan Sharon, they're the three sort of headline grabbers, if you like.
04:24But there's obviously a number of the squad that have been important members of the team for a few years now.
04:30You look at the likes of David Ferguson, Dan Dodds.
04:33OK, he's had a difficult season.
04:35And I think it's important nonetheless that Pools are able to retain the core of their group.
04:40You don't want to have to really be signing 13 or 14 players.
04:44And recruitment wise, obviously, the longer the current situation goes on, the more difficult it's going to be.
04:50I imagine Pools do have at least theoretically a list of transfer targets they'd like to look at.
04:56But but obviously that they risk that having those players snapped up by by rivals.
05:02And clearly there is a risk that some of their current star players are going to be targeted.
05:06And at the moment, really, we're in a current sort of state of limbo, aren't we?
05:11There's not a lot the club can do, I don't think, to keep hold of their prize assets.
05:15For all that the likes of Manny Disrui and Joe Gray might have formed a strong, strong connection with the fan base.
05:21They're clearly settled.
05:22They enjoy playing for Hartlepool United.
05:24If Pools are not in a position to help them secure their futures and their livelihoods,
05:29then it would be impossible to begrudge them a move away.
05:33Obviously, the fact that full deposition of funds hasn't been completed is a concern.
05:39You could imagine how that would be a concern for Raj Singh.
05:42It's clearly been a sticking point in the past.
05:45And with good reason, you can understand why Singh would be reluctant to complete a deal until that stage.
05:53I imagine it's completely essential.
05:57But it would also seem as though it's dependent on the other party as well.
06:03Shelley Hammond, who's obviously strongly linked with the takeover took to social media,
06:07she suggested that due diligence is ongoing, but that it's really close to a completion.
06:13So my best guess would be that the reason why funds haven't been deposited is because due diligence hasn't been completed.
06:20So although perhaps the deadline might have passed, I don't think it's passed irrevocably.
06:27Hopefully, Pools are going to be able to get something completed sooner rather than later.
06:31But obviously, from the incoming owner's point of view, it is important that they complete that due diligence as thoroughly as possible.
06:38They don't want to take over and start planning and start budgeting and then uncover any skeletons in the closet or nasty surprises.
06:47So clearly, it's significant that they conduct that process thoroughly.
06:50Nonetheless, I think it's pretty clear that time is of the essence and you would really like something to be completed ideally this week,
06:56but certainly before the end of the month.
06:58Yeah, for sure. Just for anyone who didn't see Shelley Hammond's post over the weekend on Instagram, it was due diligence takes time, but that time is invaluable.
07:08It gives us crucial insight into what's broken, what needs fixing, where the risks and opportunities lie.
07:13And most importantly, how we hit all those important milestones, brackets, promotions faster.
07:17Due diligence isn't just a box to check.
07:19It's the foundation for genuine long term stability and success.
07:22And that's what we all want.
07:23And there's no better feeling than getting close to the end of that process.
07:27Dot, dot, dot.
07:28Really close.
07:29So Pools fans will cling to those final two words with great hope over the next days and weeks.
07:35But we shall see.
07:36Just in terms of the pitch.
07:37I mean, obviously, it didn't go into any great detail.
07:39But I mean, in reality, the pitch needs ripping up, doesn't it?
07:42And it needs a new pitch.
07:43But given those things usually have to be done pretty much after the final game of the season,
07:49and we're already a couple of weeks on from that.
07:51I do wonder what kind of level of work can we go into the pitch this summer and head
07:55to the next campaign?
07:56Because it was a big issue, wasn't it, for the players last season?
07:59Yeah, I mean, it was.
08:01Look, it's such a cliche.
08:02It's obviously the same for both teams.
08:04The standard of pitch in the National League does vary really dramatically.
08:08I certainly think there were worse pitches than the pitch at Victoria Park last season.
08:12Pools went to Halifax in March.
08:14They share their pitch with the Rugby League side, Halifax Panthers.
08:18I think they're set to share it with two rugby teams next season.
08:22And that was in really dire condition.
08:24The pitch at Aldershot was in really poor condition.
08:26They had a number of postponements as well.
08:29Fylde as well, who have obviously been relegated,
08:31that their pitch was in really poor condition.
08:34So it's not an issue that's exclusive to Pools.
08:39There are some really nice pitches as well.
08:40We were at Dagenham Fairney recently.
08:42That's a nice pitch.
08:43Sutton as well.
08:44They both share their pitches with women's teams.
08:48And so they've got a bit more money to pump into their playing surfaces.
08:52But it was obviously an issue.
08:54I mean, it depends what sort of side you want to be.
08:57Obviously, the side that probably Darren Song envisaged,
09:00where they were going to be more direct, physical, combative,
09:04where the focus was really on getting the ball from back to front as quickly as possible.
09:08Sometimes going from the goalkeeper straight to Manny Disarui and just trying to win the second balls.
09:13I suppose the condition of the pitch was not necessarily as pressing.
09:17Now, I'm not suggesting at all that the Pools deliberately let it fall into disrepair.
09:22But inevitably, you have to cut your cloth accordingly.
09:25Pools are no longer a football league club.
09:27They no longer have as much money to spend, you would presume.
09:31And obviously, the pitch has been the pride of Hartlepool for many years.
09:35Head groundsman Dave Brown has done a fantastic job.
09:38He's won individual accolades.
09:40The pitch has won awards as well.
09:42So clearly, it's not a case of the people tending to the pitch.
09:46I think clearly there's been a lack of funding.
09:49And it has been an issue.
09:51I think a lot of fans would like Pools to play more positive, purposeful football.
09:56Now, they're not asking for total football.
09:59I think you've got to be pragmatic in the National League.
10:01It's a physical, robust, competitive league.
10:03A lot of teams will try and be direct.
10:06They will try and get up in your faces.
10:08They will make it very difficult to dominate the ball.
10:11But I think that Pools fans would like to see a bit more possession-based play.
10:17They've got plenty of technical players.
10:19And it was difficult to see, really, some of the more technical players struggle.
10:25And struggle to such an extent.
10:26I already touched on Adam Campbell.
10:28Obviously, he arrived with such a good reputation.
10:31And still, despite having had such a difficult season, I don't think he has anything to prove.
10:35He'd obviously just won promotion to League One with Crawley.
10:38Had a new deal offered to him to stay in West Sussex.
10:41Wanted to return to the North East.
10:44Was touted as a bit of a marquee signing, but really struggled.
10:47I think the pitch didn't help.
10:49I don't think he would use that as an excuse.
10:51But he clearly lost a little bit of confidence.
10:54Pools do have some good technical players.
10:56I mean, they've got Nicky Featherstone and Jamie Minley in midfield,
10:58who are really capable of making them tick.
11:01And I think it's important.
11:03I think that home fans want to see their side try and dominate games.
11:07They want to see Pools get on the front foot.
11:09They want to see them dominate the ball, create more chances than the opposition.
11:13And obviously, to do that, you're going to have a better chance
11:16if the pitch is in better, Nick.
11:17So clearly, that's something that needs improving.
11:20It's a priority.
11:22Would I say it's the top level of priority?
11:24I think probably not.
11:25I think you've got decisions to make both on and off the pitch
11:28that probably slightly trump that, particularly in terms of the staff
11:32and the playing squad.
11:33But I think after you've got that sorted, the pitch is going to be one of the things
11:36that you need to get sorted pretty quickly.
11:38But like you say, Rich, it's probably one of those that needs a couple of months
11:43at least to be worked on.
11:44So you obviously have a certain timeframe, time window that you're able to do that.
11:47And that might well have already passed this season.
11:50We touched on it briefly, but obviously, one of the wider issues at this time of year
11:54is obviously the contract status of the squad, the players.
11:57Pools certainly have a few key players soon to be out of contract in the coming weeks.
12:02Sharon, Manny D, Joe Gray, some of the key players you would probably say.
12:07Clubs also have to obviously announce their retained list as well with the league
12:12and things like that.
12:13And those deadlines are fast approaching.
12:15So it'll be interesting to see how that pans out, which you obviously spoke
12:19of the players a fair bit over the last season.
12:21Seem to be fairly positive signs from the three of them, particularly that they wanted to stay.
12:26But it's very hard at the minute, isn't it, with nobody really in a position
12:32to make those kind of concrete decisions?
12:34Yeah, I mean, you'd love to say where there's a will, there's a way.
12:38But I'm not sure at the moment that there is.
12:41It would be very difficult, as I say, to begrudge these players the chance
12:45to secure their livelihoods.
12:47I mean, you mentioned Nathan Sharon.
12:49He and his wife welcomed their second child in March,
12:53and you certainly couldn't question his commitment.
12:55He played, I think, less than 72 hours after the birth of their son.
13:01These players are clearly committed to the club.
13:05But this is the National League.
13:07These guys are not multimillionaires.
13:09They need to be able to secure their futures, not just their own futures,
13:13not just their footballing futures, but I think, crucially,
13:16the futures of their families as well.
13:19Look, I think Pools have the core of a very decent squad.
13:23I don't think it's necessarily cause for all-out panic,
13:27yet certainly in terms of the publication of the retainer list.
13:30I think about a third of clubs in the National League have already published their
13:34retainer list.
13:35It took Pools, I think, two weeks from the end of last season
13:38before they published their retainer list,
13:40albeit that was probably because of the fact that they made the decision
13:42to replace Kevin Phillips with Darren Song.
13:44At the time, that felt like a long time, really, to publish the retainer list, didn't it?
13:50I think fans were already growing concerned there.
13:53But you would like to think that, obviously, Anthony Lindbergh
13:56and whoever else is making the decisions would have a pretty clear idea.
14:00I think the players did come in for meetings immediately after the Forest Green game,
14:05probably in the two or three days after that.
14:08So I think the club will have a clear idea of who they'd like to keep
14:11and who they are willing to let go.
14:13But it's just, it's almost impossible to act upon that
14:16when you don't know what kind of budget you're going to be working with.
14:19You don't know who's going to be calling the shots.
14:21You don't know who is going to be in charge of the club.
14:24So obviously, if they can't get something sorted in the next couple of weeks,
14:27they are effectively powerless.
14:29They run the risk of losing pretty much all of the players who aren't under contract.
14:34And I mean, they've only got a handful of players currently tied down to deals.
14:39Sam Falaran and Jamie Miley, who obviously signed in January.
14:42They signed 18-month contracts.
14:44Tom Parks and Adam Smith, who both agreed new deals in January.
14:48Nicky Featherstone, we believe, has signed as well.
14:51I understand that there might be a few others who have already committed their futures to the club.
14:56But obviously, you run the risk of losing the majority, if not all, of the rest of them.
15:03I genuinely believe that pools have a decent group from which to build on.
15:09And you'd rather see them evolve from the current group than have to have a complete overhaul.
15:14It's very difficult to be successful.
15:16I think when you sign 13 or 14 players every summer, you've got to reinvent yourself.
15:21You've got to reinvent your identity as a team.
15:24I think you look at a lot of the successful sides in the National League.
15:28Their success is built on stability, but it's also built on being proactive.
15:34I mean, look at Barnett last season.
15:36I think they signed seven or eight players in the opening week of the summer.
15:40So they had a clear plan and they were able to put that into action really quickly.
15:46Pools clearly are not in a position to do so.
15:49I mean, if you look at the current group, I think there are some that will inevitably leave.
15:52Manny Honorise, obviously on loan at Maidenhead in the second half of the season,
15:56already announced his departure on X.
16:00Joel Dixon, Kieran Wallace, Jack Robinson, all suffered serious injuries and have made pretty negligible contributions as well.
16:07Greg Soggett is another one who I think will leave, spent the last couple of months of the season at Boston
16:13and by all accounts did pretty well there.
16:15Perhaps a permanent move to Lincolnshire would make sense for him.
16:18But other than that, I think there are some where the jury will maybe be out among fans.
16:22Luke Charman had a bit of a mixed first season.
16:25Jack Hunter, another one.
16:27Luke Waterford has had a difficult season since being appointed captain.
16:31Gary Medin's future might well be up in the air, but I think the rest of them,
16:35I think a lot of people would be happy to keep them.
16:38I know David Ferguson divides opinion.
16:40I know Dan Dodds hasn't had the best season, but if you can somehow manage to retain that group
16:45and then add four, five, six signings rather than the 10 or 11 that we've become so used to,
16:51then I think Pools would have a chance of being competitive next season.
16:54But obviously whether they're going to be able to do that pretty much with every passing day,
16:58that becomes less and less likely.
17:00And the challenge becomes greater and greater.
17:03Yeah, indeed.
17:05And I've just lost my chain of thought.
17:07What was I going to say? Contracts.
17:09Yeah. And that would be a nightmare scenario, wouldn't it?
17:11For the new owners.
17:12If they came in and then all of a sudden you've actually lost 10 members of your squad
17:16and certainly three or four core players that you would have liked to build a side around.
17:19So yeah, really crucial week or two coming up for a variety of reasons for Pools
17:24and the prospective new owners.
17:25We shall see how things develop.
17:27Just moving on then nicely on the next season.
17:30How do you see the National League group of clubs shaping up in terms of who do you expect to be at the top?
17:37New confirmation yesterday, I think that Mark Hughes is going to be staying on as a Carlisle United boss.
17:43They've obviously got a fair bit of money behind them as well.
17:45So they'll certainly be one of the teams to look out for next season.
17:48But yeah, some big clubs, plenty of games to look forward to.
17:51How do you see things faring elsewhere away from Pools?
17:54Because obviously there's so many things up in the air at the Vic at the minute.
17:58Yeah, well, I think this season feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, doesn't it, Rich?
18:02I don't think it's been an outstanding National League for many of the years that Pools have been in this division.
18:08There's been one or maybe two teams who have really dominated it,
18:11who have obviously had considerable financial pulling power.
18:15You look at the likes of Wrexham, Notts County, Stockport, Chesterfield.
18:19They've really run away with the division.
18:22And it's been very difficult for anyone to compete with them, certainly financially.
18:26Barnett, obviously, have done things slightly differently this season.
18:29They finished on 102 points without what I imagine would be one of the biggest budgets.
18:34They obviously don't have a huge home attendance, obviously, for various reasons.
18:39I know that the Hive is slightly out of the way compared to their previous ground, Underhill.
18:44But they've done a fantastic job.
18:46And it's been refreshing, actually, to see them do things slightly differently.
18:49A big fan of Dean Brennan, a great character as well.
18:54And, of course, they've got former Pools man Mark Shelton, who's one of a number of players to have done really, really well.
19:00In terms of next season, I mean, you have to look at Karlan, I think, as you say.
19:06I think they've made a lot of mistakes this season, haven't they?
19:11There's clearly been a degree of mismanagement.
19:13But they clearly do have plenty of financial muscle.
19:16Mark Hughes is obviously a vastly experienced manager.
19:19Quite what their squad is going to look like next season obviously remains to be seen.
19:23But you would imagine that they would have a really busy summer, similar to someone like, albeit opposite ends of the country,
19:30Forest Green did over the summer when they went down.
19:34They've got an experienced manager as well.
19:36And they threw quite a lot of money at things over the summer that obviously doesn't guarantee success.
19:41As we well know, as we've spoken about plenty of times, the National League is a very difficult league to get out of.
19:46Obviously, the playoffs are still ongoing.
19:49I think a lot of people will fancy York to go up.
19:52I know there's one or two rumors about top scorer Olly Pearce potentially not being fit for the semifinals.
19:58I'm not sure if that's just a bit of kidology.
20:01I think whenever owner Matt Oogler takes to Twitter to announce something, you've always got to take it with a pinch of salt.
20:07But if they don't go up, they're probably going to throw more money at it.
20:11They obviously spent a vast amount of money this season, obviously signed Josh Stones for a rumoured £350,000.
20:18I mean, that's incredible for a National League club.
20:22And of course, there will be a number of the teams that have reached this season's playoffs that don't go up, that you would fancy to be competitive.
20:30Southend are a club I really like.
20:32They've obviously been through the ringer a bit in recent years.
20:35In Kevin Mayer, I think they've got a fantastic manager, average home gate of 7,000.
20:40I'd love them to go up this season, to be honest.
20:42But if they don't, then I think they'll take some beating next year as well.
20:46Oldham and Rochdale, obviously former football league clubs who look to be on the up.
20:52And of course, coming back into the division, I think if you look at the National League South, Truro under John Askey, it's going to be a real challenge for them.
21:01You would have to imagine. I think they've managed to keep a core of the squad that helped them win promotion together.
21:07But obviously, it's going to be difficult to attract players.
21:10You would imagine lots of travelling for them and Boreham Wood.
21:14I like Luke Garrett as a manager. He's obviously done an excellent job there.
21:19And coming up from the North, Brackley, who beat Pools in the FA Cup, really liked them as a club.
21:25And Scunthorpe, that was an interesting final, wasn't it? Scunthorpe and Chester in the National League North.
21:30Two really big clubs, two proper clubs with good fan bases.
21:33Delighted to see Scunthorpe back in the National League.
21:36Equally, we would have been happy to see Chester back in the division as well.
21:40I wouldn't be surprised at all if Scunthorpe had a say towards the top end.
21:44They are a proper club with some really dedicated and committed fans.
21:48Danny Whitehall, who scored in the playoff final, is a player that I really, really like, scores goals consistently
21:54and is that sort of typical number nine.
21:57Callum Roberts, who scored against Pools in pre-season, is another player who I think can be a real difference maker.
22:02So it's shaping up to be an interesting division.
22:06You would imagine that, as I say, Carlisle are going to be among the most hotly-tipped sides,
22:11potentially York, if they don't go up as well.
22:14It's really difficult to know where Pools are going to fit in amongst all this.
22:17I mean, there's a whole load of possibilities, isn't there?
22:20There could be new ownership.
22:22There could be real positivity and energy.
22:25Or, of course, things could go the other way and Pools could face a bit of an uphill battle.
22:30Whatever the case, as we say, as we've already said, it's really important that things happen.
22:35Things happen sooner rather than later, because if you're going to stand any chance of being competitive,
22:39you need to have most of the summer to have a proper good crack at recruitment
22:44and keeping together the core of the current squad as well.
22:47So it's going to be interesting.
22:48It's always a difficult league to predict.
22:50I think Pools fans will obviously be wanting to get their future secured
22:54before they worry too much about next season's national league,
22:58but obviously shaping up to be an interesting division as always.
23:01I was feeling quite confident ahead of the next season, Robbie,
23:03until you're out through all those promotion contenders.
23:06Thanks for that, Robbie.
23:08I think that probably draws to a conclusion that matters at the minute.
23:11We'll obviously bring you, take your updates as and when they happen,
23:15on the Hartlepool Mail website and in the printed product over the next coming weeks.
23:20The podcast will take a very short break,
23:22while Robbie enjoys a very short end of season break.
23:26And we'll be back in a week or two with the latest from Pools.
23:30Thanks for your time, Robbie.
23:31Cheers, Rich.
23:32and just rates.
23:33And if that has not been rejected,
23:35Who has not excursed by one of his and her感じ?
23:36I told him you.
23:37Thank you, Rich.
23:38Thanks for your time, Rich.
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