New Hartlepool United boss must have man-management skills

Trevor Carson believes whoever Hartlepool United appoint as their new boss must be able to communicate with the players.
Trevor Carson.

Picture: TOM BANKSTrevor Carson.

Picture: TOM BANKS
Trevor Carson. Picture: TOM BANKS

Pools are facing up to life in the National League and are STILL without a manager even though the season has been over for 18 days.

The club dropped out of League Two following the disastrous three-month reign of Dave Jones.

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Pools only won four times after his appointment and sacked him when it was almost too late.

Despite the best efforts of the ‘gang of four’ of Matthew Bates, Billy Paynter, Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher, the side were relegated out of the Football League for the first time in 96 years.

Carson told SportMail he has no axe to grind personally with Jones, but said, under him, the spirit had disappeared and he possessed poor man-management skills.

“You can’t come in like that,” said the keeper.

“With League Two footballers, the scale of ability is fairly equal.

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“The teams who do well tend to be those that are happy and well managed.

“No disrespect to the last gaffer, but it just was not a happy camp for some reason.

“Lads could not buy into what he wanted.

“Personally, I did not have a problem with the manager – I did not have a lot to do with him – but you could see that it was not a nice place to work.

“After Batesy and the guys took over, the atmosphere totally changed.”

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Carson, always frank and honest with his opinions, feels, like many, it may have been a different scenario for Pools had Bates & Co had a longer run at it.

“League Two is much of a muchness in terms of ability,“ said the 29-year-old, who hopes to make the Northern Ireland squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

“It’s about getting a squad together with players with the right attitude and a happy squad.

“It’s not been that over the last few months.

“Batesy instilled that and gave us a game plan.”

An appointment would appear imminent, but that has been the feeling for well over a week.

Barrow manager Paul Cox is the new bookies favourite.

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He is being quoted at 1-3, with the previous favourite, Sam Collins, moving out to 4-1 alongside ex-Tranmere manager Gary Brabin.

Former Mansfield boss Cox guided the Cumbrians to seventh place in the division this season, but any deal for Cox would come at a price. The Bluebirds chairman and owner, Paul Casson, would demand significant compensation.

* Pools have announced their first pre-season fixture, a match with Wigan Athletic at the Northern Gas & Power Stadium on July 25.

The Tuesday fixture with the League One side will have a 7.30pm kick-off.

Former Poolie Josh Laurent, who joined the then Championship outfit on the last day of the January transfer window, will doubtless be in the Latics’ squad at the Vic.