Ex-Hartlepool United midfielder Chris Beech admits he's 'spoken to three or four clubs' amid link to Pools manager job
Chris Beech has admitted he has "spoken to three or four clubs" amidst reports linking the former midfielder with the vacant Hartlepool United manager's job.
On Monday, the Hartlepool Mail revealed that Pools were understood to have held talks with the 51-year-old, who has been out of work since September 2024, last week.
Beech, who as a player scored 27 goals in 104 games at Victoria Park but left in acrimonious circumstances after going on strike to force through a move to Huddersfield, appears to be among the front-runners to become former manager Simon Grayson's permanent successor.
Pools have now been without a permanent manager for almost six weeks, with interim boss Nicky Featherstone taking charge of the last six matches, winning two, drawing three, losing one and overseeing a recent run of five National League games unbeaten that's seen his side revive their faltering play-off hopes.
While Featherstone, who is the club's third highest appearance-maker of all-time and has spent more than a decade at Victoria Park, is also believed to be among the favourites to take charge permanently and is understood to have held a further round of talks last week, many fans are beginning to wonder whether Pools are reluctant to offer the veteran midfielder the job as the situation drags on.
Pools could well be tempted to turn to Beech, then, as controversial chairman and owner Raj Singh continues the hunt for the 14th permanent appointment of his tumultuous tenure.
Although Beech enjoys an excellent reputation as a coach thanks in large part to a long and successful 12-year spell at Rochdale, his managerial record is less impressive and he was sacked by both Carlisle, where he won just 28 of his 88 games in charge, as well as Fylde, where he won 15 of 42 matches at the helm.
It might be fair to assume, therefore, that Beech was not one of Singh's first choices to replace Grayson, but the fact that Pools have now been without a permanent manager for so long suggests that the club either did not have a clear plan in place when the former Blackpool, Leeds and Sunderland man was sacked or that they have been rebuffed by most, if not all, of their preferred candidates.
If Beech were to be appointed, then it would be sure to split opinion amongst an already divided fanbase; with speculation swirling, some supporters have suggested they'd struggle to forgive the manner of his departure during his playing days, while there are others who feel Featherstone deserves a crack at the role following his impressive stint in caretaker charge.
When he spoke to the BBC earlier this week, Beech admitted he was eager to return to work and that the North East held a special place in his heart.
"I'm actually seeking opportunities to work," he said.
"I have played for Hartlepool in the past. I love the North East, I just love the people, I love the energy for football up there.
"I've coached and managed plenty of players from the North East; one of my favourite players when I was at Carlisle was Jon Mellish, a massive Sunderland fan.
"I converted him into a midfielder and he scored 16 goals in one season for us, I think he got one against Sunderland actually, so he was made up - well, maybe not.
"These things happen all the time, but I am actually seeking an opportunity to get back into work.
"I've surpassed my contractual obligations in the past, I've had a good rest and I have spoken to three or four clubs.
"I think it's wrong to state who that may be, or how that looks."