Former Hartlepool United promotion-winning defender appointed Pools first team coach

It is not yet known if there is any impact on Elliot Dickman, who has been at the club since October and signed a contract extension in December, and his role at Victoria Park. The former South Shields boss was briefly linked with the Pools manager's job following the sacking of Simon Grayson but instead took on an increasingly prominent role as part of Nicky Featherstone's coaching staff.

Meanwhile, Liddle, who had been working as the lead professional development phase coach at Pools since July 2025, has left his role as manager of Northern Premier League Premier Division side Whitby Town to join Featherstone's coaching staff. The 39-year-old first took charge of the Seasiders as player-manager in October 2024, steering the North Yorkshire side clear of the bottom four last season after retiring from playing in February 2025. He leaves with Whitby 16th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division table, four points above the relegation zone.

Liddle, who is currently completing his UEFA A Licence, is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders to have ever played for Pools, making 364 appearances across three spells. Renowned for his calmness, composure and vision, Liddle began his career as a midfielder before developing into a ball-playing centre-half who was an integral part of the side that won promotion from the National League in 2021, where he was a teammate of current Pools boss Nicky Featherstone.

The Middlesbrough-born defender came through the ranks at the Riverside Stadium, helping Boro win the FA Youth Cup in 2004, before signing for Pools in 2006. During his first spell at Victoria Park, Liddle made well over 250 appearances and was part of the Pools side that won promotion to League One in 2007 before leaving to sign for Notts County in 2012.

The versatile Liddle won several individual accolades during his first season at Meadow Lane and would go on to play for the likes of Bradford, Chesterfield, Carlisle, where he made more than 100 appearances, and Walsall during a career spanning 22 years.

In 2019, Liddle returned to Victoria Park, featuring 15 times during a loan spell from the Saddlers. Having impressed during his second stint in the North East, he completed a permanent move in the summer of 2020. The following season, he featured 26 times as Pools won promotion from the National League, establishing himself in the middle of a back three under Dave Challinor and starting in the memorable play-off final win over Torquay.

Liddle surpassed 300 Pools appearances during the promotion-winning campaign and went on to play his 700th professional game the following season before leaving Pools in June 2022. In total, he played 364 matches for Pools, making him the club's 10th highest appearance-maker of all-time.

The defender would go on to represent South Shields, playing every minute of the 2022/23 season as the Mariners won promotion to the National League North, and Spennymoor. Liddle made a staggering 813 senior appearances before finally hanging up his boots last year.

Speaking to the official club website, Liddle revealed he was relishing the prospect of working closely with former Pools teammate and current manager Featherstone.

"I'm really proud to be appointed first team coach at Pools," he said. "I know this club extremely well and a large part of my adult and football life has been spent here, so it means a great deal to me. "It's been great to be back around the club again through my work in the academy and now I want to help Nicky take the first team to where we believe it should be.

"Nicky has been very clear about the standards, discipline and mentality he expects, and that's something I fully believe in. He's setting a culture where players understand what it means to represent this football club and the responsibility that comes with wearing the shirt.

"I've played alongside Nicky and know him well, and we share the same ideas about how the team should work, train and play. I've learned a lot through my time at Whitby Town and through my playing career, and I'm keen to bring that experience onto the training pitch and into the day-to-day work with the players. "Between now and the end of the season, we'll work closely together to maintain those standards to bring the best out of the group, both on and off the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Featherstone said the decision to bring Liddle onto the club's first team coaching staff "is something I was keen to do and something we felt was right for the football club".

"We know each other well and he understands the demands of playing and working at Hartlepool United," he added. "His experience, his attention to detail on the training pitch and his understanding of the club will strengthen the work we do day-to-day. "He's been there as a player, he knows what's required and he's shown through his work at our academy and at Whitby Town that he can coach, develop and get the best out of the players. "Having someone with Gary's background and approach around the group will be a real asset as we continue to push on for the rest of the season."

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