The Poolie Bunker

I loved Nicky in the promotion season and know he’s got a good football brain. But right now he looks stretched by being full No.1. He’s stuck in that awkward space between mate, ex player and manager and everything feels reactive rather than him setting the tone.
That’s not having a pop. Plenty of decent coaches struggle when they suddenly have to be the face of everything.
To me Feathers looks far more like a proper No.2. Prep, opposition work, detail, calm voice in the background. Still very useful, just not carrying the whole club on his back.
That’s where Sweeney makes sense.
He brings authority straight away. Club legend, instant respect. Clear standards. Knows what Hartlepool should look like and doesn’t need to be one of the lads to get buy in. Players would listen to him differently. Simple as that.
Sweeney wouldn’t need to be some tactical genius either if Feathers was alongside him doing the structure and prep, with recruitment actually supported properly.
Feels like a better balance to me. Sweeney sets the culture and standards, Feathers handles the detail.
That makes more sense than either binning Nicky completely or rolling the dice on another random National League journeyman.
Genuine question. Would Sweeney even be interested and would people back it?

Think Sweens is in a very good place at the moment.
I also think NF was given the job deliberately, Because a certain chap was sailing over the horizon.
Nice parting gesture.

Why do we have to swing back to ex players, there’s a big market place out there…I personally see Sweeney as a No2, but not a manger.

I appreciate the sentiment of the OP- however can't see Sweens leaving a safe, solid job under DC, to come back and risk being out of work in a year or so.

I think bringing in a Director of Football would be a better idea to develop an identity, whilst providing support to Fev.

I’d rather see Tommy Widds come in and shake up a few primaries.

Got to agree, on the bringing back ex players at least. Sweeney unproven as a manager so difficult to comment on that part. But at some point we have to move past the golden era (as much as we wish we were back in L1 challenging). Maybe my pessimistic side but I always worry about ex players/managers coming back and doing a bad job. At least some of the clueless managers we’ve sacked in years gone by have had no connection to the club prior, so I have no issue slagging them off.

thought sweens had been offered the job before and turned it down. seems happy with coaching or being a no.2. just leave him at that unless he wants to come back in that role under someone else hopefully without being at pools before. needs a clean sweep across the club.

I hope there's one thing we can all agree on. It'd be a shame for Feaths to simply get sacked at some point and not be part of the club anymore. I don't think he's the right answer for us as a permanent manager, but I'd prefer to see him stay as part of the backroom staff.

I read maybe on here Sweeney and Challinor were at the Gateshead game the other night, were they on a scouting mission, long way from Stockport for a mid week game although Sweeney might still live in the town. Wednesday normal day off so Sweeney could have been visiting his family.

Let's be honest, if they were on a scouting mission, who would they be looking at ?
The only potential sale in Pools team at the moment would be Miley, so unless Gateshead had someone?........

I'm sure they were just there recreationally, now that Raj has fucked off. I imagine both of them, especially Sweens still have soft spots for us.

I agree with the appointment of a Director of Football - - as long as its someone with a proven track record - and DEFINITELY not an appointment from within the club. I would also prefer to see an experienced new manager appointed, again with a good track record - with Feaths reverting to his coaching role, I believe he is out of his depth at present and shouldn't be expected to shoulder the responsibility.
If we are serious about regaining our EFL place please let's kick the process off properly without pussyfooting about.

Two and half hour drive to watch a National League midweek football game recreationally ?

challinor has also stated he watches pools away in the NW if he has a free night away from his club.

especially when walkers name was not on the team sheet when he got there. be like being served cold underdone chips.