…for some sign of what we can expect for next season because the preparations should have started for planning next season.
Is KP going to be the manager next season, if not it sort it out
But the ball has to be set in motion.
Is Raj going or staying, again we need to know.
If staying we need a realistic budget, I don’t expect a massive sugar daddy budget, but a realistic budget, otherwise what’s the point.
A review of the coaching side of the club, because all the managers have encountered the same problem excluding Hartley, of having good starts then suddenly having problems for no apparent reason, this cannot be down just to coincidence.
Can we please have players who want to play for us, not these card board cut outs we get in abundance with the heart the size of a pea.
Can we be kept inform.
This season is a turning point for me, let’s have some ambition from the Club.

was quite happy to finish mid table this season and that 12th position is a possibility. will not give as much slack to anyone next season if we are not having a proper challenge for the play offs. those running the club regarding the playing side should know where all the problems lie and its up to them to rectify them. thing is we do not know the full story on anything and its guess work all the time. fine being informed, but we need informing on a lot more. its not as if we are a club that does not need fans coming down in numbers.

I fear for more of the same or worse if I’m totally honest. The Raj saga just drags on. If he wants to stay then what’s the plan? He isn’t going to suddenly change his character though and start keeping people informed (although I hope I’m wrong!) Given he talked about leaving in February, is he going to throw more money in next year? Feels like a good moment for him to hand the club on (although to who now I don’t know!) He’s had a few sliding doors moments.

Coaching and recruitment need to be more joined up as well. KP needs to communicate what type of team he envisages and stick to the plan. I think he’s capable of attracting players who can do well for us.

I expect some kind of announcement and update on the sale of the club when we are officially safe from the drop.....hopefully that is not too far away.

I honestly expect nothing but the same next season.
We always have been and will be a fourth division club (ignore the megga rich premier) for a long time unless we hit the jackpot.

It depends on being given the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Then it depends on what the truth actually is because, to some people, that truth, whatever it is, may not be acceptable.
We all would LIKE more clarity but are not in a position to DEMAND it or EXPECT it.
I once commented that the silence from the club was deafening and it was then and still is now. It used to annoy me to death that we were being treat on the "need to know" basis but I have since realised that we get to know what the club is prepared to tell us and nothing more. I must have written to Ken Hodcroft ad nauseam and never once got a reply from him. I haven't bothered since.
I have come to the conclusion that because information is limited the fans make up the answers and there is disagreement amongst them and this forum is a perfect example. The club would rather we be at each others throats whilst leaving theirs alone.
There is an answer but whether people would be prepared to get involved I don't know.
Shortly season ticket renewal procedure will be promoted by the club.
If enough current season ticket holders contacted the club with the proviso that until a come clean approach on what the plans were and the direction we are taking is made, no renewal would take place.
Would that work ??? Best answer is maybe.
After all we could be given the most dramatic list of promises known to man but that wouldn't have any guarantees that all or any of the promises would be kept.
Remember the Project 25.
At the end of the day the stark reality is in front of our eyes and that is we either accept that the club will do as it likes or wants or we walk away. It is being said that we are fast approaching the crossroads, well at that crossroad is the question do we go or do we stay.
The two big questions are. Are you staying or going, Mr Chairman? and. If you are staying what is the level of your commitment?
If he says he is going then all we can do is wait until that happens and then we can ask the new owners what their commitment is.
We have to remember that, no matter how many offers he gets, he and only he has the power to accept or reject.
My personal preference would be a clean break but I am aware that doesn't necessarily bring a good result either.
Over the years I have learned that I can shout, bawl, kick and scream until the cows come home and it doesn't make a halfpennyworth of difference. I have fallen into the trap of becoming lifetime attached to Hartlepool United and can't face walking away and, unfortunately the club know that. If I could I would have done it years before now. Spending umpteen close seasons wating to see if we would be re elected and depending on the whims and votes of others. That is the main problem, we always seem to be reliant on others, like owners, managers and players.

Only Raj knows what he is planning to do but you would hope he would have the common decentsy to share those plans with the long suffering supporters. After turning down the takeover offer I reckon he must be planning a promotion push otherwise what was the point in turning it down. I am very hopeful he intends to do the right thing this time around. If on the other hand he has no plans then he must walk away now and give someone else the opportunity to put things right before the clock stop forever. Come on Mr Chairman earn the respect of the supporters and go down in history as a good caring owner who eventually got the club rolling forward and operating the way a good professional football club should operate. Over to you Mr Chairman it's certainly not too late to put your good stamp on this football club.

That was the point of my post…we don’t want to know the waist size of Raj’s boxer shorts, but some fairly basic idea of what the plan is for next season would be appreciated.

Last chance saloon next season as far as Hope is concerned.
Probably get a statement of intent when the STs go on sale.

It's Redemption time for sure.

Hopefully but it seems dead in the water, I wonder if Raj walks away and if so what that means ? Ie wil he want money back ?

I think his integrity can’t be questioned in terms of he has done his best and put money in, but his decision making especially on
Football appointments has let us down…not sure where we go from
Here

A statement of intent would be a new manager proven at this level as well as proven signings especially in midfield, action speaks louder than words

Here is my prediction...

Raj Stays - is fairly comfortable with a mid table finish and KP. KPs targets may have been met and hes kept us up etc... within a budget !

We offload the deadwood we all expected but unfortunately Raj cashes in this time on Mani D. Umerah also leaves and we gain absolutely nothing from it. Although Raj makes a nice sum from the Mani D sale. Mancini to also take an age to decide his future for us all to be let down and him move on. Feaths is offered another year and a test match. We sign Hendrie again !
Joe Grey has offers from the league above but chooses wisely to stay on at Pools (goes on to have the best season of his life)

We sign another batch of out of contract free agent players from this division - Pay cash for another striker.

mid table finish again ! knocked out of all the cups again early doors - Dodds injured again for most of the season !

The End

Why the clamour for a new manager? Let's givevthe guy a bit of an opportunity can we? He's come in and taken over a squad not of his building and according to Askey almost u coach able and certainly ill disciplined (how many times did he say they kept telling them what to do but they couldn't/ wouldn't follow instructions)?
I think he's taken 22 points from 14 games in charge - so if he could keep that average up over 42 games (the number we've played this season so far) we'd be sat on 66 points and in the play offs. So even a small improvement would probably see us at the right end of the table.
And if he was sacked, who's going to come in and surely we don't want to be looking for a new manager in the close season when we should be building a team?

You've now got two people worrying about their position. One is Mr Billy and the other is Job's comforter.

surely we do not want to go into the close season twice in three seasons with another new manager in charge. the last time that happened started the shit we are trying to get out of. whats the biggest gamble, let KP finish the job he started or a new bloke who may or not do a better job but could do a murray on us.

A new manager proven at this level?
You what?
KP has been here a couple of months and has yet to make a permanent signing.
He is working with other peoples dross but has improved team performance no end.
Any fool can see that other than you.
But then again you don't go to games do you... just sit at home in front of your T.V with your bottle of pop banging on your keyboard and whining on.
51 sackings of managers at EFL clubs so far this season.
All mistakes by chairmen in your simple little world.
How many do you think were "proven at this level"?
You think appointing a successful manager at any EFL club is just that easy?
And what do you think the odds are of anyone coming into Pools and being a success given our history?
Whether they have a proven record or not?
Arthur...Put your bottle down and please give your head a right good wobble mate.
Not that it will make any difference.
I suggest a lobotomy sadly is the only potential cure.

https://www.bettingodds.com/thesackrace/casualties

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

Kevin Phillips ...24 January 2024 Present G12 W5 D4 L3 Win Rate 41.7

think everyone can see he has improved the defence. there is still work to be done on the midfield but one good step is better than nothing. he needs longer than he has had to improve our worst position and not go back to the drawing board yet again.

I'm sure Kevin would like to drop certain players ATM but is severely limited due to long term injury and a distinct lack of midfielders at the club, which for a club of our size is criminal, yes Mancini and Wallace are out but you'd think we'd have a youngster of two who are and out midfielders who could fill in.

Those stats panned out over a season gives us 72 points, which is near enough play offs. Considering that is without bringing in any permanent signings makes the feat remarkable, especially when you take the injury count into the equation. Could of had another six points to his total if he could eliminate throwing wins away. Those extra six points in his 12 games would make the season total panning out to 95 points. We could be champions with that record. I'll take that any day. Gee Whizz.

So next season we going up.
Nice philosophy

A season lasts 46 games
Shud da wudda cudda is hope gone wrong.
Expecting KP once we safe to say publically Fcuk off you shit out of contracters.
I'm bringing in faster fitter more skillful proper Replacements in n Sir Raj will back me because I don't take no shit of anybody.
We Gunna win the league.

Pools are missing 8 players through injury - most of it long term. They've played 5 games in a fortnight with a bare bones squad. I can't remember when we last had such a feeble bench, particularly in midfield and attack.

In the circumstances, picking up enough points to stay clear of the relegation places is about par for where we are at the arse end of this frustrating season.

When I saw the bench yesterday you realised how bad the injuries are.

Bottle of Pop
More like Whiskey/Red Bull.
We all bring a bit of variation to this cabaret show especially on match day.
Be strange but decent next season when we going up.

he has worked a miracle given those stats - doubt JA would of had us in this position

Who we gonna play at centre back if Waterfall/Parkes gets injured?
Who we gonna play at left back if old lead boots Fergie gets a limp?
Who we gonna play in midfield if the two slugs Crawford and Cooke go sick again?
And if Man D goes down?
This squad is a bare bones skeleton squad full of shite.
It is a DEAD squad
It has CEASED TO EXIST.
It is an EX squad.
Yet KP is still managing to keep us afloat and competitive [second half/gateshead apart]
The bloke deserves an award.
I can't wait for the retained list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubVBK3cKanw

It’s simple to get a decent manager….. doh.
You goes on line and order one from …..
Decent Managers for You
Gullible Street,
Saw You Coming Lane
Dimtown
County Lines.
They send you one on receipt of the fee and their delivery man leaves him/her behind the wheelie bins in the car park, nothing to it.
Then, he gets out the players catalogue from ‘Cockless Sports Managrment and Dodgy Kits’ and phones in his order, plus discount . Jobs a good un , promotion sorted.

Bring me sunshine in your smile.

every position in the starting 11 needs a back up for next season - and those backups needs to be also good enough to be pushing their starting counterpart out at every opportunity - we need KP to be going to bed at night with a selection dilemma headache of sorts ! Cannot remember a Pools side that had the luxury if im been honest. Okay i dont expect a like for like 20 goal a season striker to be just warming the bench man city style but at best someone who can come on and do a bit - look like they might score .. maybe even have a small tally of goals themselves as the season goes on ! learning from our mistakes with defensive blunders we need to make sure we have a LB and CB possibly a RB again on the bench or part of the squad. Id promote young Darcy aswell see what hes like as Stephenson is doing a grand job and no doubt will feature alot next season id imagine ! Big task for KP if his budget isnt good thats for sure ! again the mans worked miracles with the team he has now so id expect with a few good additions he will be in for a manager of the month award at least once next season !

We need a proper starting 11 before we consider back up staff.
UTP.

As things stand and assuming all fit the starting 11 is just about there, just the gk position to sort out. Something like

GK. Dodds. Waterfall. Parkes. Fergy.
Mancini. Sherron. Hunter. Campbell.
Grey. Mani D.

I'd say we're a bit short of cover at the back still though.

Keeper is the main priority.

yes and three more to cover the rest of the positions.