It's interesting that LL didn't rule out staying on in charge post-match yesterday.

When he took over after Sarll was sacked he said Pools should take their time over a new appointment, whether it was "a mananger or a coach" and that he favoured appointing someone from the North-East.

I was listening to Craig Hignett on Radio Tees on the way over to the Vic yesterday. Higgy said he thought LL definitely wanted to stay involved with team affairs and that he expected a young coach to be appointed. The only question then would be who had the final say on the big calls, Lennie or the new bloke?

I think that's fair enough. There's a world of difference between mentoring (giving advice that can be rejected) and pulling the strings behind the scenes.

If LL wants to stay on as manager himself and results continue to go well then he'll probably get his wish - except that there's still 30 games left in the regular season and the bloke is 77 in December! He doesn't seem the excitable type but that's still a ton of stress to take on.

If he doesn't fancy it and someone else is appointed then they have to be allowed to be their own man - for better or worse.

Strikes me a bit strange how LL used to find his way down to the dug out in the last few games that Sarll was in charge. Could understand him having some input in the interview for a new manager but surely his opinion was invited before the Sarll appointment so where do we go from here.

It looks like Lennie and Nicky are singing from the same hymn sheet.
It might be worthwhile to see where that takes us.
Who knows we may have a future manager in Nicky right under our noses.
They are definitely doing something right.
Is it worth a shot.

If it aint broke dont try to fix it.

Let Auld Len have one last dance- he clearly fancies it after yesterday, as otherwise he'd have categorically ruled himself out. Have Fev as his understudy, and he can takeover when where back and in the Football League next season!

Mr Burns Blue and White Army!

Be careful we don't want to " Burn " all the bridges and leave us with no way back

actually we have nothing to lose. we have tried blokes previously in 1st team management and under 21 coaches and none have been a success apart from challinor. its whats the least biggest gamble. stick with what we have or try in vain for a new man to get things right.

A run of Maidenhead, Altrincham & Aldershot is quite favourable but we have improved & 2 draws & a win isn't too bad.

It is in our Pools nature to think we've turned a corner after our first comprehensive home win of the season. I think it is a stretch to want LL as manager as a result of this small uptick in form. If he takes us to York & we win away from home, then I'd be fully sold on letting LL & Feath finish the season.

At this point, I don't know what Pools need (we've tried most things) but it isn't LL as a long-term option to progress the club forward. York's gaffer doing a good job, can we not unearth the next gem from NLN/NLS?

Agree Mr Dog. It was a good result (every win is) and we looked so much better than we did under Snarll - but weren't Aldershot woeful? We may have turned a corner - lets hope that we have - but that performance wasn't that briliant. We should have scored more. But, yes, it was so much better.

It is very interesting and a predicament we have not seen for a long time - the scenario is clear. We want to keep these results up and push now for the playoffs. We also shouldnt change things like others have said "if it aint broke etc" very true. But i also feel like we still need a new manager/coach with fresh ideas and someone who can really take this squad to its limits and really get the best out of them. LL will no doubt have us winning games and probably steady the ship as to not get us relegated. But again i also agree - will the new coach just be here to show face and take the flack whilst LL is still on his shoulder during matches and training. 30 games is a long season ahead - LL has changed his tune so he must think hes capable of the task - given even if we bring in another coach for the training side of things and let LL do what Sir Alex Ferguson did towards the latter of his career (basically be a presence and over see).
Raj and his merry men no doubt have a right situation on their hands now and I am sure that at this point - any appointment needs to be absolutely bang on as replacing the caretaker manager with someone worse at this stage would be curtains for even more fans !

Interesting that a lot of people are assuming a Lawrence-Featherstone combination. I think Feaths would need a ton of persuading to go down that route.

As he said in his interview pre-Aldershot, he hasn't so much as run a training session yet for all he was named as player-coach - for the very good reason that he starts practically every game and has to train hard himself to manage his on field responsibilities. I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Think Pools will be looking elsewhere for a young North-East based coach. And the question will remain, as Eiphos has rightly picked up on - will he be allowed to be his own man or basically there to implement Lennie's wishes?

again why should pools be so insistent on this north east only approach. challinor had not NE connections and sarll does not make all managers away from the area are crap and know nothing of the area. its not as if local blokes have been a roaring success at the club for awhile. its all about the best man for the job with me. our problem is not where a manager actually comes from its sorting out the best applicant to provide the type of football most fans want to see. would love to know the names of the ones who did not get the job. think it could be a real eye opener.

We're also a striker-light of where we need to be. Mani D one card away from suspension & worse still, if he gets injured we're in trouble. Madine 4 weeks off (and even then we've not seen the best from him up to now...)

The talk is that 1st interviews are underway. We now have a 2 week break before our biggest game of the season, so we don't have another 'grading home game' to see whether LL really has struck a chord with the squad. The season is still in its infancy so we aren't looking at a managerial stop gap to just see us through to the end of the season.

This appointment is a proper one and one that will decide if this season is a success or not. Over to you Raj & friends.

have people applied for the job or just the brains made their own short list up by asking people if they are interested.

unfortunately i dont think we will ever know how the recruitment process truly works at Pools (until it goes absolutely balls up and Raj blames someone a year down the line ha). However you would assume that agents of some managers will automatically fire a CV over to a club looking for a new manager - then there is the chancers probably from leagues below and then there will be people whom the new board have their eye on or even Joe Monks may get involved too. Id imagine the Murty one we approached and asked him to come in - wasnt the rumour that there was 7 candidates lined up or have i dreamt that... ?
we need to find someone for the rest of the season if this is the way its going and not just LL for another 6 weeks and then someone else come in for 10 games and said process starts all again !!!

I honestly think Feathers tone is running the show.

We are bottom half and out of the cup…it’s broken and needs fucking fixing, not just more of the same and cheap options because they are in situ

Super fans forget that after 1 win in a row.
But whoever gets the job will have a lot better chance than the many previous failures.

Semi decent squad and an absolutely dogshit division.
Fell on their feet whoever the lucky man is.
Promotion means a excellent pay rise at a different club.

Winner
Winner
Chicken dinner.
UTP.

if he is he aint doing a bad job. the only problem in promoting him in any way could see the end of him as a player with us. player managers and player coaches seem to stop playing or reducing their appearances soon after starting their new role. one step forward and another back.

True. And there's nobody else in the squad who can play in his role.

Well the delaying of a new manager seems like LL unofficially has the job.
No problem like if he can sustain 2 pts a game as that will guarantee a top 7 finish.

A glimmer of hope returning.
Any updates on Madine??

yes, he is still a has been.

Two glove puppets!! No-one saw that coming

Hands up if you'd rather have two new players than 2 new coaches

I’m in

Well we still in the last chance saloon bar and we trying every option on the hope Menu.

Good to hear Sir Leonard saying we have to aim for the play - offs.
That's more encouraging than closing the gap.

Sounds like he's happy to still be 4 pts behind the top 7 going into New Year's Day.
And strangely I would Deffo take that then kick on major style from then on.

In dry dock to have the barnacles scraped off his bottom, they slow you down terribly.

But he's the best header of the ball in football.
So just needs to time his runs into the penalty area from next week.
As Lennie wants the midfielders to be higher up the pitch to give our front line better service.

Sounds better than Sarlys method for sure.
UTP.

time his runs. we,d get all the players done for time wasting for that to happen.

Is humble pie on the Xmas menu?

Can Walter Mitty Shithead n the Board rectify there summer errors.

We’re playing football and after Sarll’s dogmatic score a goal and defend, defend, defend and see what turns up School of Siege Football, it’s a pleasant change.

Madine's fitness to play or lack of it looks like proving a few people wrong, doesn't it Kev?
He could get crocked again, but then so could anybody in the team.

Mads should be helping out MannyD.
A bit like the Sutton keeper did.

Wasteing pts away especially at home this 1 up from malarkey.

He said there will be changes for the game against Tamworth, definitely no Gray but Mancini and Madine will be in the starting line up with Mani D on the bench, only my opinion.

Lennie interview on Radio Tees last night. Is that what you are referring to? He said Dodds, Mancini and Lua Lua would all start.

if they both did start the interesting thing for the future is how long on the pitch they,ll last. feel madine would have to pace himself just to get to half time due to lack of match fitness he must have. cannot see mancini being a menace either over a long period. both are ideal subs but used longer on the pitch in that role.