https://x.com/BBCTeesSport/status/19309 ... 58/photo/1

Please get this over the line!!!

It's a power struggle, Raj interview is going to say he's going nowhere, proof of funds, blah blah blah

"Firmly at the table" and "fully committed " to the takeover sounds very much like it'll happen. Fingers crossed...

If he does…we’re shafted.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMITMENT TO THE TAKEOVER OF HARTLEPOOL UNITED

London, 6 June 2025 - Herd Group wishes to confirm its ongoing intention and firm commitment to the takeover of Hartlepool United Football Club.

We are working in partnership with a group of like-minded parties who share our passion for the club and a clear, long-term vision for its future. Together, we are committed to building a stable and ambitious foundation that supports success on the pitch and meaningful engagement with the Hartlepool community.

While it is generally not our position to comment publicly on ongoing transactions until they are completed, we recognise the level of uncertainty and concern among supporters in recent weeks. Given the unique nature of this situation - and the strong emotional connection fans have with their club - we felt it was appropriate to voice our position clearly.

We want to make it absolutely clear: we are firmly at the table and fully committed to completing a deal. Our focus remains on securing a positive and sustainable outcome for the club, its supporters, and the wider town.

As we step forward, we offer the following core commitments to fans:

• A Relentless Push to Get Back in the League: We share your ambition to return Hartlepool United to the Football League. We will invest in building a competitive squad, back our manager, and implement the right footballing structures to make this a reality.

• Respect for the Club's Heritage: We honour the proud traditions, identity, and spirit of Hartlepool United. This club's unique history will be protected and celebrated at every turn.

• Open and Honest Communication: Transparency and dialogue with fans are central to our approach. We will keep you informed and involved - through forums, digital updates, and direct interactions.

• Support On and Off the Pitch: We will strengthen both the team and the infrastructure behind it, fostering a culture of professionalism, pride, and passion across the club.

• Community First: Hartlepool is more than a club - it is a family. We will deepen our roots in the local community, supporting schools, charities, and initiatives that make a real difference.

• NEVER SAY DIE: This will not be a short-term play. We are committed for the long haul - building sustainable success through careful planning, youth development, and unity.

We thank the fans for their continued patience, passion, and belief in the future of Hartlepool United FC

ENDS.

Great statement, can imagine it’s gonna be alot better than this interview with the chairman of the club. Yet some will still pay money into his pocket… baffling.

Right on cue, evidence that a takeover is very much still a live prospect. Can't see Raj impoverishing himself to hang onto the club IF a deal that is financially acceptable to him is close.

He might well rubbish the deal in his video. He might say they need to do a lot more to satisfy him.

He might even come out swinging against the fans again... and then claim he's always had the club's best interests at heart and doing a deal will prove that.

The fact that they feel comfortable enough to put out a statement like that after the last Raj bonk on, suggests the tide is turning. NSD! UTFP!

The best news I have had this week having lost a very dear friend on Wednesday night, onwards and upwards,

I still think Raj can leave with dignity and with a degree of good will all round. He saved the club, absolute fact. It's his choice now though, let's hope he leaves and leaves graciously.

Well said, I can’t stand the bloke and haven’t been for a couple years now because of him but if he sells up to herd all is forgiven and he will have been the man who saved the club, massively helped with our promotion back to league 2 and then sold the club off to people who can push the club further. Really not sure why he’d want it the way it’s looking like it’s going…

Be realistic. On the one hand this could be a signal that agreements are very close and a takeover has been all but agreed.

But - on the other hand it could be that there’s intransigence on the owner’s part and he’s nowhere near dealing with this lot, and this is a last throw of the dice to create fan pressure to drive through a sale.

I suspect we’ll hear soon enough but with what we have to go on so far it could be either of these.


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This is what I’ve struggled with over recent weeks.

Raj’s legacy to the club would have been that he saved the club when it was looking highly likely that we were going pop and although his tenure wasn’t wholly successful at all times there have been a number of bright spots. Admittedly there’s been a lot of grim too.

Instead the going’s on over the recent weeks has, in my opinion, soured things greatly.

I’m just packing up to come home from holiday and feeling pretty glum.

That statement from Herd Group has cheered me up a lot

What about a statement on future catering

trying to be optimistic, but I suspect this is front running Rajs pending interview where he states no realistic options on the table, and those cirticising him can put their hands in their pockets etc..

In my opinion and until more is revealed, I consider we should all take a step back and see what develops. I recognise emotions are running high as we are all pig sick of the lack of clear and precise communication but I think we should give procedures a chance to take their course, hoping against hope that this saga is nearing conclusion.
Everyone's co operation in this is very desirable and extremely welcome.
Thank you all.

I like the way Herd Group have released a statement before Singh interview.

When he be trying to con the pool fan base, in saying no offers, no interest, no one wants you. We all know what he's going to say this regardless.
Then probably claim that the Herd Group are time wasters and don't believe them, I'm the only person in the world who you have to love, I'm a bigger fan than all of you put together. Without me you be gone for GOOD!
Or on the other hand he says I'm going

I wouldn't get too excited this is just a getting in their first statement, calling raj out to put pressure on him. Apparently raj has more digs at section of the fan base and no doubt rubbishes any bids.

Robbie Stellings take on it.
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/ ... ew-5164234

Typical Mail article, it doesn’t actually relate anything new whatsoever…

Herd group statement, If in doubt shout it out.

ick Loughlin
@Nick_Loughlin_
Quite interesting that the PR firm behind Herd International who put the statement out there today is a very slick and high powered London operation -
which is also very close to Mike Ashley and his business empire.

This blokes name is on there too:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-shi ... bdomain=uk

COO Of "Sports.com" amongst other things

And Keith Bishop of course, Mike Ashleys right hand man.

These clearly legitimate people, some of them clearly have money.

Yep 100%
BTW not 110%...that's not possible.

Fuck all this shit anyway...I'm soaking in the bath with a G&T...hope I wake up and raj has gone... fucking GONE..FUCK-OFF!!!
Now where's my rubber duck??

Don’t get too excited…I won’t believe it till he’s gone.

He's playing hardball and the fans and club will suffer.

Me neither but it sounds like there is genuine hope that the Herd immunity will eventually prove to be the catalyst in the removal of the virus. The out of contract players could prove to be key as they will not be readily or cheaply replaced should they decide to turn down improved offers from Raj.

On the HERD statement Keith Bishop is named at the bottom of the document.

His Company of London.
https://keithbishop.com/

Who is Keith Bishop.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... s-11441626


Not lip service:

An alternative view of Keith Bishop here - https://nufcblog.org/2014/10/bashing-th ... t-pr-guru/


But at least they seem to have the money, and the intelligence, to try and get someone in to help with the PR side.

Compare that statement with Raj’s laughable amateur-hour attempt today. It’s like night and day.

Probably 99% of our fans on that wavelength now.

One thing about supporting Pools has taught me down the decades, is disappointment is generally the norm and the mythical light at the end of the tunnel really is the express train coming your way……. and it’s gonna hurt.
As a poolie, you’re pre conditioned in the womb to expect the worst, it saves our sanity and tears.
The club needs a laxative.

Not sure what some posters expected to hear from Raj Singh, the 'interview' or to be more accurate, political broadcast on behalf of the Singh party was EXACTLY as I expected. No amount of vitriol and hate is going to make an iota of difference apart from raising our blood pressure. Neither is urging 'boycotting' the club especially in close season. Neither will statements from former players or the Stellings etc. In my view the only outside influence that will impact on Raj must be applied by the Herd group (or other serious potential buyers) who need to up the ante, get involved and show the fans that they really want to buy the club and remove Raj Singh from our club forever.

If I want to get my blood pressure up and spout vitriol…I will.
You may be above anger and abhor anger at the treatment we are receiving…I’m not.
Would you advocate communal hymn singing and prayer….?

So basically ya telling everyone to shut up n support this shit show
And potential buyers need to shape up

Good Luck with that fantasy.

What’s Smokin Joe actually smoking.

Two things we know about Raj Singh. 1. He’s extremely thin skinned. 2. He’s extremely stubborn.

1. Means he would like to get out of Pools as he’s getting persistently slagged off. This also means he won’t care a jot about keeping the ungrateful fans happy. He won’t give a shit.

2. He won’t go until he extracts everything he wants from a buyer and gets whatever he thinks he “deserves”. This is why deals go nowhere.

This is where we are. If this Herd lot don’t give him what he wants, he won’t do a deal. Simple as.


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Smoking Joe isn't telling anyone what to do is he? He's giving an opinion which is quite balanced imo.
The only way out of the present situation is for Raj and the potential buyers to find common ground. Personally I wouldn't be buying a season ticket just yet, but I'll not tell others not to or criticise them for doing so as I don't know everybody's circumstances - maybe that £50 saving means a hell of a lot to some people.
The fanbase is split on social media, but I suspect that come the 1st game of the season at the Vic we'll be there in our numbers supporting the players (not the owner).

raj would sell the club today if new owners ticked every box he wanted from them, especially his value of the club. thats the way i have thought since he arrived.

If you're paying money to support the players, you ARE supporting the owner. I don't think there'll be as many there as you think if Raj is still in charge.

Well I've never considered myself to be anything but a club supporter, never an owner supporter. Couldn't give a toss about the fortunes of the owner just the club. And that included through the good years of IOR as well as the charlatans over the last nigh on 60 years I've been going.

Correct PTID, I'm certainly not telling anyone what to do, I want rid of Raj as much as everyone else and I'm not going anywhere near the ticket office online or otherwise until he departs. However I can also see the futility of getting worked up over something that no amount of words is going to make a difference. I also fully appreciate the angst towards Raj so if it helps to let off steam that's the individuals choice. I do think that the buyers should be pushing Raj harder to get the sale through, especially given the imminent loss of key players if Raj doesn't make a realistic effort to pay these lads what they are worth instead of fannying about.

I tend to find profit overrides pride every time….with some people.

I think he’s telling us to keep quiet, behave and cross our fingers and hope something turns up
Mr Micawbers philosophy on life…..never worked for him either.

Personally I think a deal might be close, but I think DD has uncovered something that Herd Group believe can be used as leverage to renegotiate the agreed price (remember the Interim Board told us acceptable offers had been made). Looks like Raj is trying to playing hardball but the power has moved to Herd as if they walk then he either pulls the plug and loses a substantial amount (debt owed to his Parent Company), or he continues to fork out to keep the club afloat which will cost him more money.

They go together like a horse and carriage, you can’t have one without the other…according to the song.

whilst i,d agree 100% with what you are saying i feel the ownership of any football club is far more important than it once was. oh for the days of this time of the year when the only interest was the new players who come or might come in to replace the ones that have left. now it seems whats going on behind the sceens is more important with fans acting like accountants checking balance sheets.

Yep - that's Singh. He loves brinkmanship, he'll take it right to the wire, he'll be up late at night thinking of cunning ways to extract an extra 50K.