Letter of the week: Loan arrangement may help save Hartlepool United

I moved away for work, but I am still an avid follower of Pools.

Like many other people, I am saddened by the plight of the club.

Hartlepool Borough Council has stated it will do all to help the situation.

The club, meanwhile, has always maintained it is a community club.

I feel this is appropriately demonstrated with an academy and junior teams around the town.

The ground itself is an asset of community value. Therefore, the council could help.

The council could apply for a loan under the public works loan board, where interest rates are really low (around 1.8% over, say, 10 years).

It has a seat on the board until such time as the loan is paid back.

This would give the club and community up to around £500,000, meaning its survival is secured probably until the end of the season, paying back around £60,000 per annum over say 10 years.

This would give the time to get the right investors on board, avoid administration where costs would be similar to loan costs and maintain all the community involvement with the club for many youngsters.

I feel the council should at least explore this option as the club is at the heart of the community and perhaps it would kick-start the longevity of our club.

I am now living in Chester, where this club is also in financial crisis.

Robert Hindhaugh,

Oldfield Drive,

Chester.

Last week's Letter of the week: Shops should close to mark 100 years since the end of the Great War