I am a new poster who enjoys nothing more than reading the Poolie Bunker for everybody`s thoughts on what is currently going on at the club.

I agree with a lot of what is being said at the moment and as a Pools fan of over 20 years, I can honestly say I have never been more pessimistic going into a new season. The fact I felt compelled to make a post after all this time backs that up!

I was absolutely gutted when Mick Wadsworth was appointed, mainly due to the fact that his recent record has been absolutely abysmal, and also because when Colin West left we were linked with a couple of potentially good young coaches such as Colin Cooper, who I feel could have brought something fresh into the club. I fear Wadsworth is a dinosaur.

I am a sports journalist, and when Wadsworth was appointed, a lad in the office immediately said: “Where are Paul Murray and that Uruguayan bloke these days, you`ll be signing them, he takes them wherever he goes.” Sure enough, within a few days they both turn up for trials. Jobs for the boys if you ask me. I can`t see how a player who was all set for Workington Reds can cut it in League One on a weekly basis? And as for Yantorno, from what has been written he sounds exciting, but his record both playing-wise and injury-wise is pretty shocking.

I viewed the potential signing of Jon Macken as a massive bonus as, despite his age, I still think he knows where the goal is, and with the right service could easily get us 20+ goals next season. I don`t think a player of his calibre needs a trial, just sign him up! Unfortunately that one seems to have gone quiet as well. If we don`t bring in a new forward I can`t see where the goals are going to come from at all. None of our current strikers excite me apart from James Brown, who you have to be a bit worried about injury-wise.

Don`t get me wrong, Chris Turner did an incredible job first time around for us - who knows how many points we would have racked up in League 2 if he hadn`t left us for Sheffield Wednesday - but how much time is he going to be given?! Some clubs would have sacked him three times over by now. I don`t understand why it has been allowed to go on for so long. He already holds the farcical title of Director of Sport, so why doesn`t he do the decent thing and move back `upstairs` and let somebody else have a bash...and preferably not Wadsworth!

In Monday`s Mail, when he was asked about the trialists, Turner was quoted as saying: “I will put my thoughts to the owners on Monday with what we should do with each player and take it from there.” Can`t help thinking this meeting didn`t go too well when, after the friendly on Tuesday night he showed his frustration at not being able to bring in any new faces!

Anyway, I`ve just realised there is nothing new in anything I`ve just written, but it feels good to get it off my chest!

I know what you mean jackal

I must admit to having a very odd feeling about Hartlepool United right now. The constant chatter and rumour of a takeover is becoming a real drag, and just leaves me confused about what to expect. I just want it resolved one way or another - and as soon as possible.

I’m not looking forward to a season of relegation worries, but I get this odd feeling that I shouldn’t grumble too much – after all, on the crowds we have it is an achievement staying in League One –yet we have talented players that suggest a struggle shouldn’t happen.

Hearing complaints that the whole club is a mess, is ridiculous. Darlington would love to be in the mess we are in right now.

Something is amiss, and I cannot quite put my finger on what it is. Would a new manager solve all our problems? It might get the best out of this squad – but that is realistically 10th - 14th place in League One (with a bit of luck with injuries & suspensions).

Would Turner being replaced bring back the thousand or so fans we’ve lost? Again, it would help the crowds initially, but they won’t all come flooding back.

Turners time is just about to run out – a bad start to the season has to seal his fate.

We all want another Neale Cooper – but the more I think about it, I can’t help wondering if we just got lucky – right man at the right time, right combination of players.

In the end, it feels like the club are treading water – doing what is necessary to keep us in League One, but only just.

Maybe IOR are tired of running a football club, feel that the town just hasn’t appreciated what they have done for the club. After all, before them it was struggle in League Two – now it’s struggle in League One. I take comfort in the words ‘League One’, but many more just see the word ‘struggle’.

I’ll be there for the home games, I can’t really see me not being there – but I’m going more in hope than in expectation.

They are both in Asia, not ASDA at the moment and the web is down out there

So I've heard

It's just disheartening when the summer starts with exciting talk of Nile Ranger on a season-long loan, O'Donovan being signed on a permanent deal and an amazing takeover or at the very least new investment, and now we find ourselves just over a week away from the start of the season and we haven't got anything at all to shout about.

I keep thinking 'there must be some news today', but it just doesn't seem to be happening.

When the players were training on the pitch the day before the Leeds game I thought Turner would probably be taking the three trialists into his office afterwards and getting their contracts sorted. Then they would be unveiled as full-time players later that day as a way to perhaps boost the attendance on the Saturday and give the players a lift in the process, but no.

Then I was thinking that maybe the deals had actually been done and that they would be announced before kick-off against Leeds, but again no.

The 'appetite-whetting' line is the cleverest thing the club have done in years, reeling us in with the promise of a bright season ahead when really it's looking pretty bleak.

If we start the season with what we've got, as Turner rightly says, we're going to struggle. Having said that, the blame for this situation lies firmly at his door. IOR gave him their full backing this time last year and the majority of players he brought in just haven't been good enough.

Since Turner is being honest then i would like to hear his views on the appetite whetting crap he said and maybe an apology. Il admit, i wasnt buying a season ticket but somehow it lured me in and i believed it.

as has been said by someone, maybe Turner was promised funds, so he tried to get the fans excited, only for the rug to be pulled from underneath him. Its certainly viable.

A very good first post which echoes the thoughts and feelings of 95% of poolies. There isnt really much more to add.

I dont see any way that we will be above 20th after the first couple of months of the season. If im wrong then brilliant. I am just hoping that IOR (or the new owners) get off their backsides for a change and do something about it i.e appoint a manager.

As much as I dont rate Turner, it would however seem harsh to sack him this season as opposed the previous ones given he clearly isnt being given any funds to spend right now. This is rightly so in my opinion as I wouldnt trust him with a kids pocket money but never-the-less if IOR dont rate him enough to provide funding then replace him with someone they trust. If they do rate him and there is simply no cash available, will they really sack him??

I suspect your right, if so id like to see him come out and say so.

me too, but it would probably cost him his job knowing what Hatchet Hodcroft is like

This still doesn't make any sense, just last week Turner was saying how well things were going.

For him to come out and reveal things about the goings on in the club is either very stupid or a calculated risk taken to get the fans back on side and against IOR before new owners come in and splash some cash. If the company taking over is affiliated with IOR then they lose nothing whilst raking in the improved attendances.

This coupled with the fact someone told me a week or two ago that Turner was planning to complain to the mail about the funds he was (or indeed wasn't) getting.

I can't help thinking it's all a carefully written pantomime designed to get us feeling sorry for Turner and get off his back.

I'm not fooled and don't feel in any way sorry for him, he had money last year and now he's criticising the same players to the public. Bad form if you ask me.

Exactly. Whose players are they...?

If those 2 seasons were our 'time in the sun', and that was as good as it is going to get as a Poolie, then perhaps my time supporting Hartlepool United, after 47 years, is coming to an end. I, along with all the other Pools fans out there, have always had to be an optimist, better to travel hopefully and all that, but if there isn't any real hope of attaining those heights again what is the point. I might just go and join one of my uncles and play bowls.