Dave Challinor reveals how he's having to adapt at Hartlepool United as he looks to keep play-off hopes alive

Pools sit just three points outside of the play-off places going into the final three months of the National League season.

After establishing himself over eight seasons at AFC Fylde, Challinor arrived as Hartlepool manager back in November and has since had to endure an inconsistent run of results.

The side are yet to pick up consecutive wins since the 44-year-old took charge yet they still remain within touching distance of the top seven.

And Challinor feels as though he’s had to adapt as a manager over the past few months.

“The side are still a work in progress, absolutely, it’s just about finding the belief and confidence,” he said.

“When I envisage how I’d like my teams to play and would play, I’ve had to adapt that a little bit here. How I did things at my previous club, it was very possession based and I think with the fans we’ve got here, they want to be entertained and have action and I’m happy to adapt to that.

“That’s good for me, you’ll have a philosophy you want to play towards but you’ve got to recognise what the desire here is and we’ll be stupid to have a 4,000 crowd here and not keep them in the game by being forward thinking and getting the ball in the box.

“If we can go 3-0 up and just keep the ball and see games out, I’d love that.”