Turnbull's record doesn't really speak volumes, head of recruitment at Scunthorpe 2016-2020. Sacked from Bradford after 10 months in 2021 also been at Oldham and Chesterfield.

Sometimes though you have to say it as it is, the team so far this year has gone backwards on a national league squad, I'm not sure many can deny this, we are even playing a keeper deemed not good enough at times last season.

Mr Billingham dismisses Craig Harrisons record in non league, a record that includes six Welsh Premier league titles. It doesn't compare to Challinor's non league record. Ok fine.
Then he goes on to compare Pools national league team to the one that started this season in the EFL.
What he fails to realise is that in the national league you can recruit outside of the transfer window because there isn't one.
Armstrong and Cass for example were recruited outside of the EFL window.
DC didn't go daft pre season last year because he knew he could bring players in as he liked during the national league season, which he did.
This season it all had to be done before the window closed and that's where the mistake was made, forcing us to go with what we've got with no recourse to loans etc, until January. When it dawned on DC that time was running out he panicked and just recruited bodies and now we're paying for that mistake.

Mr Billingham dismisses Craig Harrisons record in non league, a record that includes six Welsh Premier league titles. It doesn't compare to Challinor's non league record. Ok fine.
Then he goes on to compare Pools national league team to the one that started this season in the EFL.
What he fails to realise is that in the national league you can recruit outside of the transfer window because there isn't one.
Armstrong and Cass for example were recruited outside of the EFL window.
DC didn't go daft pre season last year because he knew he could bring players in as he liked during the national league season, which he did.
This season it all had to be done before the window closed and that's where the mistake was made, forcing us to go with what we've got with no recourse to loans etc, until January. When it dawned on DC that time was running out he panicked and just recruited bodies and now we're paying for that mistake.

How long has it been going backwards, since DC left?
As for the keeper, he did nothing about that particular position, God knows why.
As for not having league experience...how would any prospective manager break into the game then? It would be a closed shop.
Get behind them or grouse, they’re here now so let’s give them our support. You never know .... and if they do well, they won’t be homesick for Cheshire.

Check out both of their managerial records then come back to me and be positive. Between the pair of them they have won 9 games of football in 46 matches I think it was, let's not beat around the bush this has disaster written all over it, especially when we are in free fall.

So raj last season we fail to hold onto hardly any of our decent players after promotion, ok not great, Challinor says we will be ok first game everything will be sorted, ok club has a decent excuse, that wasn't the case. Then not to worry transfer deadline day we will get players, erm mike fondop arrives. Slightly concerning to say the least. Not to worry I've withheld money for January, yes can't wait to see the high quality January signings. I actually don't believe we will see past Boro reserves, ok that's never worked before but so be it. Then this what a complete joke of an appointment when we needed a massive lift, someone with experience and contacts.

So I will start asking questions now, where the F##k has the money gone? The supposed million gained from promotion, the supposed 6 figure sum for the keeper, the 5500 crowds we have been pulling in, the money from sponsorship which clubs in premiership we are told it wouldn't look out of place. Dave the snake Challinor and his wife leaving coded messages on departure, someone adored by the fans, couldn't wait to leave for any club probably Fylde under 12s would of been more lucrative to him.

Now this, cheap doesn't even come into it. We expect to have a 15000 seater stadium built by this guy now? Only been talking bout it for 2 years and got absoloutey nowhere, I beleive it when I see it the only thing that will be done will be a bigger flag to cover a few more seats in the nwc to kill a bit more atmosphere.

We now have a huge fight to stay up.

Anyway rant over best of luck Graeme and the under 23s that your probably only allowed to bring in.

You do realise the Welsh league is basically on a par with the northern league? You and I could of won the league because they had zero competition. It's like rangers and Celtic playing in Scotland Craig Harrison could go there and probably finish first or second. He was found out massively at pools from the start, Challinor had competition even with money bags Fylde at the time, he came here and within no time picked us up.

I also realise their is a transfer window in place, but most forward thinking clubs knowing their was a good chance of promotion have things in place , did we? Open to debate really. We actually had a few month before the transfer window shut, we still tried to sign anybody who had boots, down to wages again?

Like you say though January we will be ok, because the window is open? Or will the excuse be you can't get anyone decent in January.

Nelson and Lee haven't covered themselves in glory in there recent jobs we have to give them a chance of it goes wrong hope they don't have long contracts

Also Nelse had a really poor record at Blyth - P28 W3 D6 L19 F19 A64, Pts 15 of 84

I thought Strachan would have been a good appointment but if he wants to stay at Celtic then so be it.

Hope it all works out!

Craig Harrison was shafted. I felt sorry for the bloke, it was cruel.

a fair point made to me over lunch from a group message of die hard pools fans is this...

ill water it down as much as i can as it was a fair rant !

" Look at it from Perhaps a 'either have your cake and eat it or be real scenario'. The Club is now sustainable and we are clearly not in any situation as to where the club could potentially fold as Raj states the investment into the club is the best its ever been (perhaps). The COO is quoted as saying [sponsorship deal] it wouldnt look out of place in the Prem (if this is his first bit of handy work then fair play to the man, the work going on in the backround is to potentially keep the books right and us have a football club). Now secondly look at the certain messages Raj relayed in his interview. The fact DC couldnt maybe be trusted and finances where withheld is again a sure sign that DC is protecting the Football Club regardless of what is happening on the field. We all dont know at what point money from said accomplishments have came into Raj / Clubs back pocket all we do know is severance was paid for the snakes departure. This money may have been set aside for said management or put into the pot for Jan... Soon we will find out. This could all be tactical in giving us the best chance at signing players /improving the club/ Signing on good backroom staff and bringing in certain missing members of footballing staff. Again we will see in due course.

With regards to the new guys in the dugout they do tick the boxes for everything us fans want from a manager .. lets face it... Both played for the club at possible one of our better times... both local... both want the best for the club.... have some passion and heart to see us succeed which not even Pep or Jose could come in with as like anything its a Job. Raj has his doubters and why shouldnt he but i think this could be a bold move and tbh he appointed DC and look how that worked out for us. I doubt Spike would have left a very good job at the boro to be scraping about trying to get us to stay in the football league. Raj hopefully has sold him something worth coming to Pools for !

listened to pools non executive director adrian bevington on radio tees tonight...very impressed...he has some c.v too.....talks a lot of sense

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0b7lm4d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxtbl5y_AAY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Bevington

What did everyone make of Sweeney’s post match comments around his aspirations and the need for the club to back the new manager?

‘Sometimes in football good things don’t happen to good people’ hmmmmmmm

The two Radio Tees lads let Bevington big up the recruitment process but didn't ask the really interesting question - was Graeme Lee always their first choice? Either way, the die is cast, so fingers crossed.

What difference would it make? It’s only been a short period in reality from Teflon Dave leaving. So Nelson left Blyth over a week or so ago that means discussions with Nelson for example must have been ongoing before that which doesn’t leave much room for another first choice.
I think they’ve had their target from the outset and tied everything up before announcing anything leading to the usual speculation..

think blyth will struggle nowadays no matter who manage them. if nelson had got the sack from someone with a good side then doubts could be made. anyway michael nelson is our assistant manager and it could be the job that suits him more.

Sweens wants the club to match his ambition. Please say he's not going Stockport...

think blyth will struggle nowadays no matter who manage them. if nelson had got the sack from someone with a good side then doubts could be made. anyway michael nelson is our assistant manager and it could be the job that suits him more.

Sweens wants the club to match his ambition. Please say he's not going Stockport...

Turnbull's record doesn't really speak volumes, head of recruitment at Scunthorpe 2016-2020. Sacked from Bradford after 10 months in 2021 also been at Oldham and Chesterfield.

His tenures not been long and at end of day been sacked but those clubs must have thought he knew the lower leagues to appoint him in a recruitment position, so hopefully he can do a job for Pools.

I'm disappointed in the managerial choice but like many will give them my support. But there's some fans of a small German club who can boast they give Jurgen Klopp his first managerial position. I wonder how many of them said who and in the words of club spokesman " fuck off" to their chairman when he appointed him. All managers have to start somewhere and a lot step up from an U21/23 side, in the old days the reserves. So as fans we need to support them as if they were our own first choice. We need to remember where we were last season and as someone else has said if we go down I dont think I'll see league football again. We still in two cup competitions , OK we can write one off but unlike many seasons in the past our season isnt finished before Xmas. UTP, NSD

What? Micky Nelson was sacked by Blyth Spartans a fortnight ago. He didn't 'leave' to join Pools. Blyth's official statement had the usual blather about "mutual consent" (the same way Steve Bruce left Newcastle by mutual consent ) but went on:
"A busy summer of recruitment provided a lot of optimism but after a series of disappointing performances over several weeks, the club can announce Michael’s departure."

The Vanarama National League website confirms:
"Blyth Spartans have this afternoon announced Terry Mitchell as their new manager.
Mitchell joins after a successful two-year spell at Consett where he recently helped the club to their first-ever Wembley appearance in the FA Vase.

He takes over from Michael Nelson who was sacked earlier this month.

The Spartans are currently third-bottom of the National League North after winning one of their last ten league games"

Sweens wants the club to match his ambition. Please say he's not going Stockport...

What and join Dave’s Performing Seal Troupe?

Think most of us are disappointed in the choices, smacks of cheapness and maybe a little slap in the face to Sweeney who was left in the mire really.

At the end of the day though everyone will get round them, it probably won't work, most managers at pools are failures, we just got to hope that it's a raj masterstroke. It's probably a good thing they are coming in on the back of 5 losses, form can only surely pick up even if it's just slightly. Two massive home games for them, I'm sure Sweeney would of liked a crack at Rochdale and Scunthorpe, after the horrendous run of fixtures he has had.

All rosey in the Stockport garden at the minute, things can very quickly change, only takes one or two bad results against the dog and duck in that league.

Have they played any of the top sides yet.....?

The tough run for them is probably the last 7 fixtures of the season. I think they have played one or two of them at home .

Interesting article regarding Sweens the Fail has just put out - Seems he may be off tbh. Will we see another ex player come along (Barron ? Humphreys ?) to help out.

Sweens wants the club to match his ambition. Please say he's not going Stockport...

Are you sure he wants to go into management, he may just enjoy coaching...sometimes we make assumptions we shouldn’t.