You may or may not know,

IOR do not own pools nor do they have any cash involvement with regards being an owner.

They are purely and simply a middle man for Larsen Oil & Gas...... our true owner! who hire IOR to oversee the running of the club on a day to day basis.

IOR will be a cost on paper to Larsen Oil & Gas as somewhere along the chain they actually own them as well.

IOR with their business wisdom? are trusted with a budget each season that MR Larsen Oil & Gas kindly provides......Enter acting chairman MR Hodcroft a Director of IOR .

Since the departure of Danny boy..... Hodcroft instructed Chris Turner (DOS) a fellow employee of IOR ...... to act as manager of our football club........ why?..... because he did the job before he ran off to Sheff Wed and Hodcroft trusts him .

To add they IOR will of paid Danny boy his contract up ........ and all the remaining manager 's budget for this season at least had been spent in doing that.....not allowing another manager to come in.

And also the fact that Hodcroft knows absolutely f*ck all about football FACT with regards team affairs hence Turner was the only choice.

And in reality Hodcroft does not need to know anything about football.....he employs people / Turner to do that, he is purely running a supply management business be it for a football club or for any other business.

Turner might not actually want the Managers job!........ but his boss is telling him he is doing it...What's he going to do?...Pack his job in because he does not like it? No chance.

So the only way Turner will leave this club is if Hodcroft sacks Turner as an IOR employee!.........the man he dearly trusts.

Then it's Hodcroft who is to blame because he put him in the vacant Managers position this leaves Ken totally on his own so that is not going to happen.

I believe....our owner Mr Larsen Oil & Gas wanted..... just like me........ a little bit more this season...... hence the 14 / 15 signings Turner made..... trusted by Ken, the man who holds the clubs budget for the season and is trusted to spend as he see's fit.

Now then , until this season things have gone shall we say as well as can be expected? remaining in league 1 last season was priority, we got there just!.
We re-grouped and signed numerous players to advance from the previous seasons shambles. ....

However I think Larsen Oil are the ones now asking Hodcroft for answers, and they expect more than what they are getting for there additional money at present.

And there is signs Hodcroft is starting to feel the pressure with his program notes & articles in the mail.

So I can see IOR disappearing shortly...... as they are not performing to the standards that Larsen Oil & Gas now expect / demand.

Enter a new supply management company to run the day to day business of the club similar to IOR with the hope of better results.... inevitably they will also be owned somewhere along the chain by Larsen Oil & Gas.

I personally think IOR have reached their limit with taking the club forward "ON BEHALF OF" Larsen Oil & Gas....

And with the majority of our supporters concerned about IOR pulling out!!! they have nothing to pull out of!!!! they will be replaced for not producing the goods.

Believe me they IOR will be more worried than us as supporters FACT.

Therefore don't thank IOR for our survival / existence or the next management supply company........ thank Larsen Oil & Gas.

Worry when they have had enough!

An excellent post and it makes a lot of sense.

Really?

I don't see a lot of fact at the end of that post. Just hunches.

If that is all true then I must confess that it has tought me a thing or two which I wasnt aware of.

I'm not entirely sure I follow the logic of the original poster.

I accept that IOR are a subsid of Larsen but it would seem very odd for a parent company to switch the company running pools to a different subsid in its group. As an Oil company they are hardly going to have another firm in their group with more experience than Hodcroft/IOR at running a football club. Instead I think its much more likely that Larsen/IOR are getting sick of the apathy of the town and sick of the abuse from the non-apathetic supporters and are probably ready to throw their lot in. I know I would be after investing £10m+ over the last 10 or however many years.

I'd be gutted if Larsen/IOR left, I'm only just about old enough to remember the properly bad times of Gibson, high court etc. and right now there is no one else I'd prefer running this club.

Its my opinion on what I think will happen...But if your referring to Larsen owning pools with IOR as supply management it's 100% Fact

Don't let Kenny pull the wool over your eyes he owns not one cent of Hartlepool United, Bad publicity will spread to the Norwegian owner's that's all Kenny is worried about they are asking questions and he is feared for his nice little job.

The additional monies spent this season has been on players Turner has recommended to Ken... in the main they have not been good enough or better than what we had.

Larsen increases the budget to cover the above and what happens??? we lose aprrox 1000 fans and we are in a relegation dogfight Again!

Turner out banners and fans unrest all in the main papers & Sky Sports

Would you be happy you might as well of kept your money!

No wonder Kenny threatening everyone to keep their mouths shut.

Come in Kenny boy your time is up FACT!

What is prompting all this negativity?

All I have seen is a response from the Chairman to the crowd getting on the managers back and responding to calls for a new manager. In no way does this even vaguely allude to the fact that they're ready to throw the towel in. Why are they fighting to purchase the ground for example?

If they were to leave, we'd have no say in the matter and would simply have to deal with it.

I don't think anyone is surprised that Hodcroft doesn't "own" Hartlepool, he's made that very clear from day one that the ultimate owners are Larsen.

Can I ask whats your beef with Hodcroft & IOR as this all feels very over the top?

It's not only Hartlepool United that cost's a Million Pound plus a year to run.

Jesus why does everyone think we are a chosen special case.

It cost money to Own / Run a football club just like it does a Racehorse you don't know what you will get for your investment.

I thank the Management greatly of IOR for showing me things I never thought I would see as a pools fan for approx 30 years...Plays off's Promotions Cardiff etc..

But that's what they are employed to do and to try and give us more success.

They are not doing it at the moment,

And nearly every F*cker thinks because we are LITTLE HARTLEPOOL UNITED we should be grateful.

It's been two season of Hell and it's not good enough they IOR have taking us as far as they can in my opinion

As for Larsen employing IOR to Manage the day to day running of the club what's wrong with that! they have not got the time to do it, Yet they like the prestige of owning a League 1 Football Club & I'm grateful they choose us.

Why give it to a outside company when they have numerous smaller businesses of their own it all helps balance the books that way.

Please, do give over.

I think they IOR Hodcroft & Turner have taken the club as far as they can, I want to see a fresh approach with Larsen putting in a new Management Structure to run the club..Goodbye Ken & Goodbye Turner.

The ground will still be purchased by Larsen Oil & Gas they are not going anywhere.

Unless you know something I dont?.

Opinions eh

No. It's been 3 seasons of hell. I'd still prefer that to going back to when we had Gibson or Smart in charge.

It's lucky IOR don't take stuff like this seriously coz they'd have fecked off long ago.

Because we pretty much are a special case! I have no idea why a Norweigan Oil company has chosen us to pump money in, but I'm more than aware that without them we'd be non-league.



It has not been two seasons of Hell, if we finish bottom won't it be one of our 6th or 7th highest ever finishes?? Again I wasn't around for the stuff in the 70's or 80's but I gather that was "marginally" worse than the "hell" we're currently suffering.



This is still the bit of your argument I can't get to grips with. Why would Larsen stop IOR running the club, when on paper (and in reality) they have been successful, and why would they give it to another company within their group who has no expereince of running clubs (unless you know of another Larsen subsid who has this experience?).

Ok very few of us agree with their choice of manager but again I'd rather put up with Turner than have IOR/Larsen walking away.

Was that smoke from behind the picket fence?

After 30 Years I have never been as sick as I have been the last two seasons going to watch pools.

Its F*ucking awful at the moment...However I would still go if they played on the Rec.

Do I think we could win this league NO

Do I expect to beat the so called big teams in this league NO

Do I expect commitment, passion & never say die attitude Yes I F*cking well do!.... that does not cost money & I have not seen that for two seasons.

Time for the above to move on that's all.

You're either on the wind-up or on acid.

Its clear your views (as are mine) are determined on the subject and thats fine, so there is no point going round and round.

I disagree with you on the fact that we're fucking awful and that this is Hell but I do agree with you that there does seem a perceived general lack of commitment from the players. What I don't understand is why they are not the target for your anger and why you've chosen to go for IOR instead!!

Enjoy the game today!

funiest thing about it is the deluded saddo thinks this is 100% fact

I'd like to apologise to Dibble here for once suspecting this poster might be him.



Of course, it still might be.

I agree completely. Why should a relegation fight every year be good enough for Hartlepool Utd or any club for that matter. It wouldn't be good enough or accepted at any other club, so why should we.

Of course we have had some bad times but quite frankly tell me a club in the world that has not had a dire few seasons when they have fallen down a league or two. My point is, if every other club can get back up and dust themselves down, and then go on to have some success. Why can't we? Why should our expectations be so low that we are happy to just keep our head above water in league one.

Changes should be made and suitable people should be put in the correct positions. If they don't perform they should be replaced.

In no way is it time for IOR to move on, it is time to re focus but there is no need for massive changes. Chris Turner is not the right man to manage Pools' - he shouldn't be involved in first team affairs and I very much doubt he will be next season. Chris Turner probably has something to offer in other area's though.

The jobs for the boys attitude has to change as well, we need a fresh outlook. Our recent success has flourished (short term under newel who got us a huge lead in division four before blowing it) and slightly longer term under Neale Cooper and Danny Wilson. We need someone new and some fresh faces to dive this club forward and get us in the top half of the table.

Surely someone did that already...that's why he's here?

By the way, chip, Trimdon posts on Vital now, you know. You should get yourself over there for a chat.

But there is never any toilet paper in the bogs though.

Chip,

It's only my opinion I think we need a change or I feel it will remain like this for ever,

I just want more or them to give it a better shot I am no Idiot and why do you have the attitude of thinking you have the final word on here?

You are not the special one! and Chip if you with All your knowledge and attitude think for one minute what that lot are serving up at the moment is acceptable it's you who should be fooked off

Opinions eh

Enjoy the Game

Thank-You....

Maybe you put it across better than me

Chip,

What is wrong with wanting something better than 17th position in the 3rd tier of english football. Hey if your happy with that, I admire yout nobillty.

I however think that we are capable and deserving of more. There are teams in the championship which are similar in size and financial situation to our own, hell Blackpool could be in the premieship next season!!!

Nobody is claiming that IOR have in any way done a bad job. But surely we can be open minded enough to suggest that maybe, they have taken us as far as they can.

Is it so delusional to dream that we can take the next step? What will it take for us to progress? Or are we destined for 3rd tier mediocrity for all eternity?

For every Blackpool there's an Oxford United or Luton Town. The weather is sunny and I think you should just chillax....

So 3rd tier mediority for all eternity it is then!

Whaich part of Ken Hodcroft said this week "results this season have been unacceptable" did you not understand.

Well done today players fans & staff,

Commitment & effort was all there to see.

More like it

Jesus monkeyhanger, were you actually at the game today. I was the best thing at the game today did. You see me taking them penalties today top mascot taker me like 100% effort........if you don't mind me saying oh if you want out I'll see you round the back of the town end!!!

And here I was thinking I could have a decent debate about how Pools should be run with a reasonably intelligent guy.

I was wrong......Your'e a cock

PS: "fooking" is not a word either you spanner

No but you can't spell the word it is obviously replacing without filters kicking in. With a word like mediocrity however..........

Mate, we're more than willing to have a debate on the club we support. But you're comments regarding IOR or the way Pools are run are in no way reasonable.

No but you can't spell the word it is obviously replacing without filters kicking in. With a word like mediocrity however..........

Mate, we're more than willing to have a debate on the club we support. But you're comments regarding IOR or the way Pools are run are in no way reasonable.[/quote]

Before this spelling contest gets out of hand, may I suggest we get back to the point.

Are you Serious??? Its not reasonable to expect Pools to finish higher than mid table in league one!!! Of course its reasonable and measures should be taken to ensure it happens. I can't think of a company/business/charity/football club that does not want to progress to the next level.

I just feel that a lot of people think that just because we are little old Hartlepool Utd we should be happy with our lott, end of story. My question is why? Why should we be happy with that?

I know we could be a lot worse off, just look at Darlo. And maybe it is all pipe dreams, but it just gets to me when we see other small teams punching above their weight, even if its just for a couple of seasons, why is it they can do it but we never have been able to?

Disregard the voiceover from Danny Baker, this is what I think a conversation between these IOR haters sounds like

http://promo.betfair.com/fillum-manager/popup.php?idm=282

monkeyhangers- Do you spin records at a disco on weekends?

Arabian Monkey Hanger- which one of his hangers-on are you? Or are you a shared log-on creaming your pants as you slide into oblivion?

I can't wait for the dancing to start when you go bust, for every one of your reasonable fans there's a dozen pricks like you.

That is all.

Yawn.

I do not know monkeyhangers I just happen to think there is some substance to his argument.

I come from Hartlepool pal, Not that I have to justify it to you. I used to post regularly on the Rivals board using the same name. I'm new to this board, I did not realise that all new members are loids until proven innocent

These small teams that are puching above their weight? Who are they? The only club that has been mentioned so far is Blackpool. Life is too short to explain how ridiculous it is to try and compare Hartlepool to Blackpool in terms of the town football clubs.

Blackpool have won the FA cup, made a few other cup final appearances, supplied numerous players to the England team and have come close on a couple of occasions to winning the 1st division title.

And what's with the "we have never been able to punch above our weight" comment? Do you genuinely not think that getting to the League 1 playoff final, despite having what was one of the lowest average gates in the division, and then coming within 10 minutes of beating Sheffield Wednesday in said final is punching above our weight?

chip pan fire - thinks he is the n*gger from the ghetto with a gun to shoot anyone who doesnt agree with him...............what else is there to say?

any need to use that word?

"Chip"?

Aye, could be seen as offensive I reckon.

Chip is more of a wigger then a nignog