At the halfway point in the season Pools' gates are the 4th highest in the division, averaging 3,551. Not bad considering we didn't manage a win at the Vic until October, but a long way behind York and Oldham (both 5,600+) and Southend (7,180)

Considering they are still below us in the table Sarfend are easily the best supported side and would be walking the league if crowds had anything to do with it.

It really is a Mickey Mouse division though - 13 of the 24 clubs have average home gates below 2,000!

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/ ... nk-4931154

we could easily match oldham and york if the fans got there wish with a real chance of promotion either automatic or through the play offs. without a fortune spent on the vic we,ll never get to the southend level even back in the league again.

Pools don’t need a fortune spent on the Vic, Pools need to invest in decent players, Pools currently have 3 ‘coaches’ how much is that costing, is Singh funding them from his own pocket. I doubt it, the money will be coming out of the club.
In the past Pools have showed there is potential for support within the town with attendances at the Sunderland and play off games all those years ago.

Pools don’t need a fortune spent on the Vic, Pools need to invest in decent players, Pools currently have 3 ‘coaches’ how much is that costing, is Singh funding them from his own pocket. I doubt it, the money will be coming out of the club.
In the past Pools have showed there is potential for support within the town with attendances at the Sunderland and play off games all those years ago.[/quote]
it does not matter who owns the club and we went up and the fans came back in numbers if the sold out sign is out very home game. the rink end needs expansion now even if we cannot fill it now but might in the future. an owner funding that is a legacy for our future and far better than throwing money at players who might not come off. we need a minimum 10,000 ground but not a white elephant like mk dons or the arena.

Yet again Mr.Hogans you bring good researched information. Thank you keep up the good work.

We've rarely has the sold out signs up in our entire history which would suggest the present t capacity is more than adequate.
Investment in the playing side could bring in higher crowds whereas investment in the ground would be money down the pan.

Agree. If Pools were top of the league instead of York I'm sure we'd be averaging somewhere between 5 and 6 thousand just like them. The record books say that would be as good as at any time in the last 20 years.

It's hard to make a case Pools need a bigger capacity right now and even harder to be believe that major construction work will ever happen at the Vic unless a super rich owner also owns the ground or Hartlepool Council are footing part of the bill. Need a hell of a crystal ball to see either of those things happening

Crowds so have something to do with it if your club isn't riddled with incompetence and/or debt. Higher ticket sales means more money and better players and in the most cases more points.

Doncaster a prime example of how wrong you are on both fronts.

Loads of clubs show ambition on n off the pitch.
Last time we were in league One we lost a shit load of money through capacity not high enough especially in the away end.

Expansion is still on if we ever show real ambition.
As it stands now yo yoing at the very best between divisions 4 n 5 means capacity now is OK.

Suppose all fans are different but would like to think the dream of getting back in league one before I die is still applicable.
obviously under proper ownership.

Idont think any Poolie would argue about that dream......we all have it,

How many fans are currently staying away because of Raj?

It's worth considering.

His running of the club and treatment of the fans isn't great

We aren't going to be losing money because of lack of capacity in this league that's for sure so investment in getting out of the league comes way before ground expansion for me.

And how many more do think will stay away if he sells any one of the likes of Mani, Joe, Dodds, Mancini? You are correct of course, Raj’s running of the club and treatment of ALL the fans - not just the handful of knobheads who have hurled verbals at him and his family - leaves much to be desired. IMO the sale of any of the key players without immediate adequate replacements will kill the season as surely as pricking a balloon with a needle.

Joe I totally agree .

Yet again RAJ is the one holding us back it has to be put up or shut up you promised pre season we were going for promotion as per usual for you done on the cheap. I reckon if Raj went the gates and next years season ticket sales would increase. We were told negotiations with Mani, Joe and Mancini were going on what is happening on the Oldham forum they were saying they should sign Mancini after the way he played against them. Personally even if we did get into the play offs and went up I would still want RAJ out of our club.

Season ticket sales will obviously increase if we achieve promotion - or maybe even if we reach the playoffs and go down fighting - this would still represent a big improvement over recent years. As you say, sales would doubtless also increase if Raj sells up - however the margin of increase would obviously depend on whom he sells out to. I don’t blame the club for keeping schtum regarding negotiations in respect of players contracts. It will be hard enough keeping the squad focused on what is happening on the pitch during January without fans inevitable and unconfirmed speculation.

PTID is correct. Our ground has been an absolute seething cauldron when the fans have had something to get behind. Thousands have turned up and have been able to put up with a tired ground because of the atmosphere. Bring this back first and we MUST address match day experience and capacity. All pie in the sky though

So what exactly is it about the match day experience that concerns you? It's a serious question.

For me the quagmire outside the Millhouse stand needs sorting - has done for decades but the circular argument about whether it's the club or the council's responsibility gets in the way. The area behind the Rink End is clearly included in HUFC's rental agreement. For me the wasteland between the little car park in front of the Millhouse pub and the Vic's perimeter wall equally clearly isn't a club responsibility.

The electronic ticketing on the turnstiles works well, no queues to speak of. The stewards are polite and efficient - when there's enough of them on duty. There wasn't for the New Year's Day match but maybe they had problems getting all of them to turn in! The bogs are clean and dry. The stand is clean too and the seats are way better than the backless stools we put up with for years. Can't really comment about the bars and catering because these days all I buy is a programme, but they do a good trade.

The biggest change for me is the approach to the ground - the Millhouse Pub looks very unlikey to ever reopen and it's like the Odeon was never even there.

A good assessment. It's important and therefore good to hear problems have started to be solved. It was quite a journey I hear. I guess I mean it is something that has to be kept on top of but people tend to come regardless of these things (important as they are) if the Vic is bouncing regularly.

Rovers hit lucky by getting a new ground fairly close to there old one when they where on the up to the second tier. If they were still in non league the place would be akin to the arena with wide open spaces. The thing with money spent on ground improvements is money spent for years in the future where most of us will be gone. splashing out on players can work but you cannot stake your life on it. nobody is looking for a 20,000 capacity ground but surely a 10,000 one is realistic with decent facilities for home fans.

The other thing to mention about the match day experience is that since Sarll was got shot of the crowd is right behind the team. There's a belief that a postive result is within reach - even if the opposition scores first, which they've done a few times.

Obviously we need more people in, but it's noticeable that the stay-aways include the noisy gobshites who shout abuse at individual players in the blue and white as a form of 'encouragement.' Or just to draw attention to themselves. They're not missed

although it does not bother me who our manager and owner is regarding my attendance at the vic i do feel more will return and get behind the team if a new owner came in. sarll only sucked the interest out for a short period where raj has done this for some fans for a few years now.