Robbie Stelling reflects on a chaotic few months at Hartlepool United

The Hartlepool Mail's Robbie Stelling reflects on a chaotic few months at Pools.

Transcript

00:00It's been a dramatic few months, even by the considerable standards of Hartnepoel United.

00:07Pools were plunged into a race against time to attract new investment and secure the club's future,

00:12following Raj Singh's sudden and unexpected decision to resign in March.

00:17Although the club has officially been up for sale in one form or another since April 2023,

00:22when pools were relegated back to the National League,

00:25there have been long-standing doubts about Singh's sincerity in his desire to sell pools.

00:30There has been previous takeover attempts, a number connected to the supporters' trust,

00:35and one connected to local-born businesswoman, Shanley Hammond.

00:39However, Singh was quick to blast previous prospective owners as time wasters.

00:45Nonetheless, this time felt slightly different, from Singh's public resignation of the chairmanship,

00:50to the increased level of communication through an interim board,

00:55who efficiently remained anonymous but were believed to be a collection of club employees and volunteers,

01:01including Lee Rust, Rose Stoker, Joe Monks, Andy Steele and John Pearson.

01:07Talks seemed to be progressing well.

01:09Shelley Hammond, who again looked to be the front-runner,

01:11even took to Instagram to suggest that due diligence was really close to a completion.

01:17Nonetheless, the initial deadline of May 5th, when Pools put the curtain down on another underwhelming season, passed.

01:25And then another two weeks passed, when Pools suddenly released a statement to suggest that takeover talks had collapsed.

01:32In another bizarre twist, Raj Singh suggested that he was willing to return to his former role,

01:39but only if season ticket holders voted for him to come back.

01:43In a vote that was chaotic and opaque, 63% of fans who were eligible,

01:51that is, last season ticket holders and those who have already purchased a season ticket for the 2025-26 campaign,

01:58voted for Singh to return, not exactly in triumph, to his previous role for an indefinite period.

02:04Now Pools face an uncertain summer.

02:08Ten players have already left.

02:09Manny Disirouet, Joe Gray and Nathan Sharon are all yet to commit their futures to the club

02:14and could well leave on a free in the coming weeks.

02:17And Pools face the unenviable task of having to rebuild their squad,

02:22despite losing ground on a number of their National League rivals

02:25and with their reputation having taken another hit.

02:28Manny Disirouet, Joe Gray and Nathan Sharon,