Here, we've taken a look at 10 potential candidates Hartlepool United should consider as the hunt for the 14th permanent appointment of chairman and owner Raj Singh's controversial tenure goes on.
1. Nicky Featherstone
The 37-year-old, who has spent more than a decade at Victoria Park and is the club's third highest appearance-maker of all-time, has been in interim charge since the surprise sacking of Simon Grayson last month. Despite enduring a nightmarish start to life in the dugout as Pools were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage in abject fashion by Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity, Featherstone has led his side to an impressive eight points from 12 available in the National League, breathing new life into their faltering play-off push. Given his generally positive stint as caretaker manager as well as his long-standing links to the club, Featherstone has to be among the favourites to be named as Grayson's permanent successor. Photo: Adam Cook/The Corner Photography
2. Graeme Murty
The former Scotland international has been regularly linked with the Pools job over the last couple of years and has an excellent reputation at Sunderland, where he's worked as the head of professional development since October 2022. Caused a bit of a stir when he wasn't in the dugout as Sunderland's under-21 side beat Ipswich 4-2 last week, although it's understood his absence was to do with an unrelated reason. Photo: Ian MacNicol
3. Phil Parkinson
Parkinson was sacked by fellow National League side Altrincham last month following a hugely successful eight-year spell with the Robins, leading them from the Northern Premier League to the fifth tier and masterminding a play-off finish in the 2023/24 season. While the Greater Manchester side have endured a difficult start to the new campaign and Parkinson was dismissed following a run of seven games without a win, it's worth remembering that the Robins lost Regan Linney, who scored 24 goals in 43 matches last term, influential attacker Alex Newby and popular winger Justin Amaluzor over the summer. Certainly, Parkinson is a coach with a big reputation, but it remains to be seen whether an immediate return to management with Pools would appeal. Photo: George Wood/Getty Images
4. Paul Hurst
The 51-year-old would surely be a popular appointment among Pools fans given his impressive record, twice leading Grimsby to promotion from the National League while also masterminding the Mariners' memorable run to the FA Cup quarter-finals, beating Southampton, then of the Premier League, in the process. Even so, seems hard to imagine the prospect of a return to the National League will appeal to Hurst, who was sacked by Shrewsbury in November 2024. Photo: Getty Images