Fair play to them for this.

https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/club ... 21-season/

Following the meeting earlier this week with National League clubs to discuss the ‘Government’s Winter Survival Package’, the club would like to update fans as to it’s position.

While discussions are ongoing with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), clubs were asked to provide views on three points:


1. The operation of a Club Loan process, whereby clubs apply to Sport England on an individual basis

2. The operation of a National League Loan from Sport England, to be distributed to clubs as grants and impacting future central distributions

3. A suspension to The National League 2020/21 season.

The club would like to make it clear that it is it’s preference and belief that funding should be made available as grants rather than loans, as discussed at the outset of the season. We have discussed the current position of funding now being made available as loans rather than grants with Mike Hill, MP for Hartlepool, who has agreed to continue to lobby the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to reconsider this option​.

Given the three options outlined by the National League, we can confirm to fans that we have advised that in the absence of funding being made available as grants, we would be in support of option 2 – continuing the season under the operation of a National League loan distributed to clubs, but contingent on a number of details being confirmed and deemed satisfactory.

Chairman Raj Singh commented ‘I thought it important to outline the club’s position to fans with regards to this important decision. Continuing the season is our primary concern, but it is important that it is also done so on the right terms. I would like to thank Mike Hill MP for his continued support on this matter.

I would also like to put on record again my thanks to our season ticket holders who have continued to support the club through this challenging time. We will be announcing a ‘thank you’ package to season ticket holders early next week to cover the season to date so far – and once we know how the season will progress, then we will revisit this again at that point and hopefully be able to do more to show our continued thanks for their commitment.’​

Yeah but they’re bleeding the club dry aren’t they H? I mean can you believe what they say? Or, are you endorsing this message yourself personally and coming out in support of the club and what the owner has said? Are you kissing his bum with me? I must tell you I wasn’t involved in the press release myself so cannot guarantee it’s accuracy. If there is any message you want to get to Raj though let me know though yeah?

Ultimately and whichever way you cut it, RS took over a distressed and asset less shell of a football club. It’s simply not possible to do that with ulterior motives.

Don't know of anyone on here who said he did, I certainly didn't. My only criticism of him, and granted its a big one, is the poor way the club has been ran off the field since he took over. In that respect the club is in a worse position not better, with no real improvements of note.

What evidence is there that the club is being badly run off the field? Decisions will be made based on immediate financial concerns and the owner has said he is not necessarily in it for the long term if he can find a buyer or investor. Like every other business with an uncertain future in these times, costs will be cut to a minimum which is not really what any of us want to see. Whatever business plan there was following the takeover is out of the window and people have lost their jobs. Likely the finances are not there at the moment to employ anybody, including the chief operating officer role. Who is going to leave a secure job to come to Pools anyway with the uncertainty that exists? I'm not sure who is doing what at the club at present but I'm grateful to whoever it is for keeping things going.

So, it's not being run in the way some would like to see certainly, but exactly what is it they expect? What commercial activity in addition to the range of initiatives the club are trying at the moment would they like to see, how would it be paid for and what guaranteed income would it generate for the club every year?

Some think it is easy. Covid apart, but even where other clubs are more advanced than us commercially, from what I have seen that doesn't generate significant revenue in itself and nor does it guarantee success on the pitch. If it was that easy every other owner we and most other clubs have would have done it by now. When the club in its more succesful years had a higher turnover why did it not spend money on major ground improvements? Why did previous owners not swell the fan base and attract significant sponsorhips? When IOR owned us another of the Norwegians subsidiary company sponsored us, likely becasue IKEA weren't offering us £3m to put their name on our shirts.

There is appreciation from the club for the ongoing support from the fans and it is trying to support the local community if it can from what I can see.

So what is the obvious solution we have all been missing I wonder? Apart from an owner with very deep pockets I'm struggling.

its not just pools decision its the rest of em.