Further redundancies made at Hartlepool United as National League season suspended indefinitely

Victoria Park, Hartlepool (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

The news emerged on Tuesday evening with former club captain Micky Barron expressing his disappointment that long-serving media manager Mark Simpson had been made redundant along with three others.

With the National League season indefinitely suspended and without any form of income, Pools have been taking significant actions in order to cut costs and preserve the club through this difficult period.

Following the shutdown of the season, Hartlepool’s matchday and ground staff were made redundant before a 20 per-cent pay cut was announced for all remaining staff and players.

Two football staff members were then dismissed including first-team sports therapist Callum Davidson.

The club also made two backroom staff members redundant earlier in the season prior to the coronavirus outbreak.

It is believed that around eight full-time members of staff have been handed their notice during the season, leaving the club with a skeleton set-up behind the scenes.

The club have opted not to place these staff members on the Government’s furlough scheme which would cover 80 per-cent of wages.

Hartlepool are yet to comment on the most recent redundancies but have previously stated: “Our only priority is to ensure that Hartlepool United emerges on the other side of this intact as a competitive force.

“The Chairman has supported the club over the last two years financially and continues to do so, his investment has already gone significantly beyond initial projections.

“We must make sure that we control costs and make tough decisions in order that the demands on him financially are reasonable in the context of what will be a challenging economic environment over the next couple of years.

“Actions were taken with a heavy heart and involve individuals who have shown loyal service to the club in some cases over a significant period of time.

“But these are tough times and we simply must make sure that the club emerges with a sustainable cost base whilst still being competitive on the pitch.”