https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/ ... -1-9085921

Chief Executive Pam Duxbury is also likely to remain at the club in her present position.

Not exactly a fresh start is it!!!

And with this 12 year payment plan in place, neither are we a debt free club!

Hopefully its just a hand over period till the end of the season which would make sense.

Does Singh like DIY?

Oh yes we are !

oh no Were not !

It can't just be me who cringes every time someone says "Auntie" Pam or "Uncle" Ken, surely?

Anyway... we don't really know if Pam has a positive influence on the club or not. She is the figurehead/spokesperson of a bad era, but how much of that was under her control and not Watson and Blackledge et al? We were all on board with her pre-season and had Harrison's tactics not been utterly inept we may well have been top of the league and on the brink of promotion back to the league, Sage not pulling the plug and we'd be singing their praises. Pam may have appointed Harrison (with Watson as her brilliant advisor) but now that'll likely be Hignett's remit so take the football decisions out of it, take Blackledge out of it and she might be able to get on with what she's used to doing and possibly very good at.

Or she might be genuinely hopeless, in which case Raj will bin her.

I noticed that Mark Burrows has recently started tweeting the club a lot, hopefully were not about to welcome back others associated with Coxall et al.

So does that mean we would have a chairwoman and a director of football?... So much for cost cutting.

I purposely used the word Aunty and certainly not as a word of endearment.

I think she should move on and I think she should do the right thing and return to where she came from.

We need to get rid of the old with regard to how the club is run.
New people at the top and a fresh start.

Or keeping her in a job, could just be part of the deal, in which case , different day, same old shit. How the fook has Hignett managed to worm his way in? usually Directors of Football have usually achieved something in the game.

I’ve worried about this as well. We need a Chief Exec or the like to run the finances but a director of football seems extravagant at our current level. Mr Singh is happy to pay at the moment but the whole club needs to become more sustainable. That means difficult decisions which us fans may have to get used to.

It's all certainly got a feeling of 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' about it at the moment.

We need some transparent statements about personnel and finance if the deal is sealed, that's for sure. Without them, all we're doing is prolonging the agony.

Didn’t I say her being in place was part of deal about a month ago

This is exactly what we need at this level, more roles, more executives taking money out, a chairwomen, a chairman, a director of football, a head of recruitment, a head of hiring to make sure all these roles are filled.

I think the best thing that can happen is that we get a clean slate from the nightmare that's been the last year, i cant say how much of a role pam has had as i dont know, but she hired watson, she authorized a huge fucking squad and she kept harrison on 3/4 months longer than she should have done, its not been a great start for her.

And they hired dave fuckin jones!

I knew three months ago

Young, hungry, played at a high level, has on obvious eye for talent, local, great knowledge of lower football especially in the area, good local contacts, well thought of, proven he can sell the club to players when he was manager, was always willing to travel and talk to players face to face in a bid to sign them etc.

What more do you want? Id take that any day over whatever you want.

Stick to slagging Bates off.

Other than that though, WHAT HAS HE EVEN DONE?!

Hignett recruited 6/7 players that are still playing football league football and ended up being sold too, not just given away, sold for actual money.

He was building a good side, playing good football, he had many players lined up to come in.

Listening to him at the trust meeting he has unfinished business with pools and has a great level of passion for the club and the area.

He'd be a good addition.

And I reckon Pools owe him another chance after Coxall potentially ruined his career.

Agree with Yubep about Hignett - he recruited some good players and does seem passionate about the club.

My issue is whether we can actually afford him. Raj obviously thinks so, which is the main thing I guess. The guy isn’t actually officially the owner yet and we’ve not heard from him, so I’m probably expressing concern too quickly but we need reinventing as a business which is why the appointment raises eyebrows.

To be honest, given everything that’s gone on it’s difficult to know what to think. I had a look at AFC Wimbledon’s website though, as we’re told they have the smallest budget in the football league. They have all the key positions filled - Commercial Director, Operations Director, Chief Exec. Maybe between Pam and Craig they will cover those three jobs?

Interestingly AFCW also have first team and academy coaches in abundance.

https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/club/club-officials/

I'm happy with Hignett if he comes in and his job is to look after the management side of things, working with Bates or whoever is the team manager with recruitment of new players etc.
I think Pam should walk and I am not happy with her still being here. All remnants of the last year or so should be brushed away as far as how this club was ran.
Singh the owner, Jeff on board and hopefully 1 or 2 local business men also on board and hopefully they have Pools interests at heart and of course someone from the trust.
That way everything can be made accountable.
Out of interest, what does Singh want in order for someone from the trust to be on board?
If someone came in with a substantial amount of cash, surely they can dictate terms too!
How much has Singh put in? How much is still owed? How is the club being financed till the end of the season. What are the plans for the future financially?
If I was taking over HUFC, I would want a clear out at the top and put my own people in charge and I would be more than happy with a % of the club owned by the trust.
If the fans are on board, then the club can be run way better than it has been done in the past!

Don’t underestimate the part Hignett has played in bringing the deal together.

I'm happy Hignett is coming on board. Like has been said, he was building a decent squad when he was manager, and IIRC, our performances massively dropped off in 2013/14 when he left for Middlesbrough. I've been impressed by the upturn under Bates and I think he's probably earned a shot at the full-time role if he wants it. I imagine he does, so if and when he takes it, someone like Hignett would be a positive influence on him in areas Bates hasn't had to grapple with yet, particularly recruitment.

I'm not thrilled with Duxbury staying on, but of all the parties involved in the shambles over the last three years, she comes across more as incompetent rather than malicious like certain others. I may be wrong, and certainly others will have a better judgement than I, but that's the impression I get. Who knows, with some more experienced voices around she may even be able to offer something more positive.

I really don't see a problem. He was a victim too. Will you only be happy when anyone with money is barred from taking over the club and it becomes Hartlepool Socialist Workers Co-operative People's Collective FC where wining the league would be banned by the team selection committee as being elitist and the players paid in allotment produce from the clubs collective farm.
I'd love anyone genuine with cash to come in and invest in the place no matter who they vote for.

Cringe away....... the Uncle Ken tag wasn't complimentary..... that said, it wasn't nasty either.

Pleased to see Hignett in a key role. I think his approach to subsidising the club by developing young players is a good one and he's already shown that he has an eye for recruiting and then improving free transfers. We could be like Crewe but without the kiddy-fiddling.

As for Duxbury, Blackledge obviously felt he owed her so he made keeping her on part of the deal. With a director of football running that side of things she'll be marginalised in many respects but has a chance to prove her worth in others. If it turns out she's bad at the job she'll be gone soon enough - it can't be an agreement to let her stay forever.

Blackledge stands to make a small fortune if Pools get to the Premier League in the next 12 years... good luck with that.

As for Pam Duxbury staying on as acting Chief Exec to the end of the season the same way Matty Bates sounds like he'll be staying on as caretaker manager - it's not as if Singh/Stelling don't need a Chief exec is it? They're not going to do the job themselves.

The really odd thing about the latest Fail report (assuming it is accurate) is this:

"The duo had hoped to raise around another £600,000 to ensure Pools had nothing to worry about financially for at least the next three seasons, with the plan to make the club run as close to self-sufficient as possible in that time. But they currently find themselves with a black hole in their budget. Although, that is not understood to be causing concern in the Singh camp, who are relaxed about the shortfall."

What happened there then? A couple of weeks back Jeff Stelling was saying an extra £600k was essential to the viability of the survival package, now it's "not understood to be causing concern."

I've told him I'll chip in with double that once I win the Euromillions and he is happy with that prospect. He isn't daft.

So I ask you again clever clogs , what has he achieved as a manager , to warrant director of football job at Pools?

Dont know about me slagging off Bates, but im not so far up Hignetts arse , I can't see.

Hignett in his defence could argue he was working under restrictive practices at Pools, but regardless of his so called talent spotting prowess, he achieved the sum total of fook all on the pitch.

I just want a clean slate, new owners, but majority of players and backroom staff scattered, and no ex managers employed. Is that not sensible given the sh*te we've had to endure the last 10 years?.

I predicted we would be in this mess 10 years ago, and I think I know what is required to get us out of this mess, and its not Duxbury, Bates and Hignett on the payroll.

You didnt ask what he achieved as a manager.

Not quite sure what that would have to do with having a Director of Football job either.

Take anything Liam Kennedy says with a pinch of salt as he had basically been working on PR for Pam since she sacked Sammy Lee and he would priny anything she tells him to and has been for the last few weeks. I wont be getting a season ticket if Pam stays on in her role she is clearly clueless and her and Watson are the main reason we are in this mess in the first place hiring players and managers and going through the Agency they used to run on some of the bigger deals then keeping Harriosn on as manager when it was clear he was useless.. After what Hignett said I would be amazed if she is at the club beyons the end of April why would the club need an accountant that cant add up running things. Seems a nice enough woman but clearly out of her depth and a few of the office staff apparently have a very low opinion of her. A fresh start should mean a fresh start and get rid of all the dead wood including her !

[quote

What happened there then? A couple of weeks back Jeff Stelling was saying an extra £600k was essential to the viability of the survival package, now it's "not understood to be causing concern."[/quote]

I guess the £600k is vital to see us through the next three years but it’s not needed up front. If we’re still £600k short in two years time Raj could say he told us two years previous and then do one. I’m actually pleased a figure was put on survival though. We all know where we stand and timescales are reasonable. Better than saying someone needs £1.8m tomorrow... for instance!

Now I'm really interested! Which parts of 'this mess' did you predict? Steve Howard coming in too soon? Russ Green handing the takings over to the Monkey Hangers? Coxberg? Getting relegated in the last minutes of the last game of the season? Scotty Harrison being harder to drop than the Man They Couldn't Hang? The fans paying the tax bill? Raj Singh taking over?

Or just all of it?

Here here!

Blackledge wants payback over the next 12 years. Pam works for Sage. Blackledge wants a "friendly" face/spy in the Pools camp to pass on whatever information.

Blackledge: OK Singy, I'll talk turkey, but you have to keep Pammy on as director and on the same dosh.

Singh: You eff uss offer a barril, Blacky. Ve vants plum Mill ouse laand.

Blackledge: Singh sighn on the dotted and it's yours.

Can you make a photo in paint of this meeting please

To me it stinks that Pam is being kept on.
I was under the impression that this takeover would involve a fresh start for the club.
Doesn't look like one to me, certain fingers are still in the pie!

In defence of Pam and Sage, if they (okay Pools, but it was Sage's money), are going through legal proceeding against Coxberg, then I doubt they want to walk away from it before this is resolved. It would make sense that the 'litigation issue' was that they wanted Pam to stay on to oversee the conclusion of this, and recoup any money they can from it, before she leaves.

Get money from that lot, don't think so.

Hignett slammed Watson. Watson is best mates with Pam. Totes awks.

Compo please can you tell us when Pam will be let go?

My money would be in the summer.

She may be incompetent/malicious or whatever, but she knows how things have been going on at the club. To lose all her knowledge overnight would set us back.

If you've ever worked anywhere that has just lost a member of staff who knows how things tick you might agree.

The Trust seem to be the only ones talking sense lately. Okay I wasn't too keen on the idea of them to begin with but they have said Blackledge is only going to be paid back a fraction of what he put in which is very small amounts over the next twelve years so I would guess it maybe 10 grand a year or something similar but with the prospect of a big payoff if the club somehow got into the higher leagues which is better than the nothing he was going to get if we went bust. They have seen the books do not forget and seem to think he put money in but then made the big mistake of leaving Watson and Duxbury to run it thinking they could be trusted then next thing he knows he has 29 players on the books and money going out left right and centre and nothing coming in and him paying for everything. As he hasn't spoken to her for months and they have clearly had a massive bust up why would Backledge have her as his friendly face ? Anyway she has been in charge when Jones and Harrison were hired and when we got relegated out of the league and this season when we nearly went bust. Who would seriously hire her to run a football club after all of that when it was her that was meant to have a control over the budget but ran up a million pounds of debt on rubbish players. Just because she run on the pitch at Barrow when we finally won a game I don't think so !

Its a football club, it was running as a football club (allegedly) before Pam turned up and will run as a football club when she leaves.
And keeping her will set us back!

Pam has been working hard behind the scenes trying to keep the club afloat whilst this prolonged take over has been taking place. She has been to one around on a day to day basis and has been the one who has had to face the music and take 80% of the flak that has been flying around. It would have been so easy for her to walk. If that had happened who then would have steered things to enable the deal to be completed? There was no one else at the club who could have done it. Does anyone think Blackledge would have come over from Preston to sort things on a day to day basis?
Trying to get to the bottom of the mess Coxberg left us in must have been a nightmare, so much so that even the serious fraud office are investigating.
I'm sure mistakes will have been made, and without a background if football - and football accounting - it must have been a baptism of fire. But she has come through it, faced the music, and we still have a club. I'm pretty sure she will have learned a lot and Singh will find that invaluable.

I'm not sure how many people on here have been involved in business-related litigation or potential litigation, but the only thing that keeps you sane while the mountains of claim and counter-claim pile up is knowing that you were there, that you remember exactly what went on and that you know where to find the docs that refute the lies.

It would be lovely if this was a clean break and a fresh start at Pools but it's not - in the real world it was never going to be. That road was called liquidation and a phoenix club.

I wouldn`t let her run a bath and I wouldn`t tell her the time if I had 2 watches.

If Pam carries on with Bates and Hignett in charge of the team with the same players and the same office staff and a 600,000 hole in the finances then the same outcome is what we will be looking at in 12 months time because she might have worked hard in the last few months clearing up the mess that was the mess she helped create with Watson but it was the Just Giving and the fans Day that saved the club not Pam she didn't have a clue how to save it. Already it is looking like the same problems just with a different millionaire in charge who will want his money back in 12 months time !

Absolutely agree FPA, Hignett yes, Duxbury definitely not. It’s highly unlikely that I will be renewing my ST anyway but if that woman - who like it or not has played a major part directly or indirectly in the clubs current plight - is still in residence at our club that will defo swing me in favour of not bothering I’m afraid.

When I saw the topic I was expecting some kind of made up photograph. Or something else completely un Duxbury related. It is a no from me I was considering going to Mondays game as the parasites had left. However will not bother now and that will be my position until all connections to these jokers have disappeared for good however long that may be.

Keep them tins rattling, HUST fundraisers and online campaigns going, because this is a sticking plaster for a season or two. And keep buying the lottery tickets.

Top of the list for any new owner should be a Chief Executive that knows football.

I love Pam she is a true poet of the people:

Oh I wish I’d looked after United
We imagined promotion, John and I were excited
We gave Craig the task
But it proved too big an ask
So now we leave you in the detritus

I loves her accent. She’s not bad for 69 either. Mmm.