Hartlepool United boss vows to try and galvanise out of sorts Pools but admits 'we can only help so much'

However, the 37-year-old admits that might be easier said than done, with Pools in the midst of a miserable run of four games without a win while Featherstone said in the wake of Saturday's thumping 3-0 defeat at the hands of Boreham Wood that off-field uncertainty is hampering his side.

Having secured three successive victories for the first time since September last month, Pools appeared to have propelled themselves into play-off contention only for their hopes of sneaking into the top seven to slip through their fingers in dramatic circumstances.

Pools made the long trip to Wealdstone late last month knowing that three points at Grosvenor Vale could have seen them leapfrog Southend United and into the play-off places but Featherstone's side were on the wrong end of a 7-0 humiliation, their heaviest defeat since 1994.

Perhaps understandably, Pools prioritised defensive solidity over the Easter weekend in the wake of their thrashing in Ruislip, securing back-to-back goalless draws against Scunthorpe United and title-chasing Rochdale.

Yet much of the fight and spirit Pools showed during their stalemates against the Iron and Dale seemed to have vanished once again over the weekend as Featherstone's side were dismantled by Boreham Wood, going down 3-0 following a second half hat-trick from Matt Rush.

Assistant manager Gary Liddle admitted last week that Pools were "in the world of the unknown" while Featherstone launched a staunch defense of his side's poor recent form on Saturday, suggesting that off-field uncertainty is hampering his squad.

It's no secret that change seems to be in the offing at Pools, with the club recently appointing specialist football consultancy firm Bromby and Partners as new owner Landon Smith looks to make his mark over the summer.

Since completing his takeover of the club on New Year's Eve, finally wresting control away from the hugely controversial Raj Singh, Smith has understandably favoured a patient, considered and pragmatic approach, with limited obvious change in the opening months of his tenure.

After all, Smith inherited the club in the middle of the season while the American businessman has by his own admission plenty to learn about Hartlepool - the town and the club - the National League and the game of football itself.

Yet the time for change appears to be drawing ever closer and Featherstone as well as most of the squad - the Pools boss said in an interview that around 90 per cent of the current crop of players are out of contract over the summer - are facing an uncertain future.

While Featherstone, who is the club's third highest appearance maker of all time, and his side are likely to discover their fates over the coming weeks when another turbulent campaign draws to a close, Pools still have three more games to navigate before the curtain comes down on this season.

With Pools now coming to terms with the prospect of a fourth successive campaign in the National League, Featherstone and his side are unlikely to be relishing the prospect of home games against Forest Green Rovers, who are sixth, and seventh-placed Southend before a final day trip to a Boston United team who appear to have made great strides since the return of popular manager Paul Hurst.

While in terms of points accumulated Pools have made slight progress - Featherstone's side have accrued 62 points, whereas in each of the last two seasons Pools have finished on 60 - the reality is that lots of work will need to be done over the summer if Smith is to turn his side into a team genuinely capable of challenging for promotion.

In truth, it wouldn't be a huge surprise were Pools to lose all of their final three matches but Featherstone will have to try and inspire his side to finish the campaign with at least a semblance of positivity ahead of what promises to be a hugely significant summer.

"Obviously, we want to end the season strongly," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.

"There are a lot of things that go into a performance and there's a lot of stuff on the outside that isn't helping at the minute - whether that's right or wrong. Of course, I'd love to finish the season well.

"We're on 62 points, it's the best points tally we've had for a long time - although it doesn't feel like that at times this season. The only other one that exceeded that is the season we got promoted.

"There are still three games to play, we've just got to try and finish the season as well as we can. We'll prepare properly for Forest Green and see what we can do .

"We've not scored in four games now, that's a massive issue. I don't know if that's confidence, if it's insecurities with what's going on but we've got to try and galvanise a squad that's pretty low at the minute.

"I find it hard, I've been in these situations as well to be fair. Confidence will only ever come from yourself and your own performances, you have to find that within sometimes; this group has to find that within.

"We can only help so much as a group of staff, these players now have to give it a go for the last three games."

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