Hartlepool United interim manager Lennie Lawrence calls for patience as Pools begin search for Darren Sarll's permanent successor

The veteran, who has taken charge of the likes of Charlton, Middlesbrough and Luton and is one of a select few managers to have overseen more than 1,000 games, has been appointed caretaker boss while Pools search for Sarll's replacement.

Sarll's tumultuous tenure came to an end earlier this week after Pools were dumped out of the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage for just the second time in their history.

Tuesday night's defeat to National League North Brackley marked another low in Hartlepool's troubled recent history - even if the departing Sarll suggested supporters had endured more difficult times in the past - and Lawrence will have his work cut out if he's to bring the feelgood factor back to the North East.

Pools are stranded in 16th in the National League table, are one of the division's lowest scorers and have looked more and more disjointed defensively in recent weeks.

Lawrence was, officially, working in an advisory role during Sarll's time in charge but had started to join the embattled boss in the dugout at half time of late as Pools grappled for a solution to their ever-increasing problems.

Sarll had butted heads with the fanbase on more than one occasion, referring to supporters as "clever dicks" in a controversial post-match interview following last month's defeat to Forest Green Rovers and most Poolies will not have been too disappointed to see him go after masterminding just four wins in 15 games.

However, Lawrence admitted he was sad to see the back of Sarll after the outspoken boss was shown the door on Wednesday morning.

"It's a bit sad," he told BBC Radio Tees Sport.

"When a manager loses their job - having been a manager for many years - it's always a sad time.

"Darren worked hard, he was a good professional, he put the hours in and he was a good coach.

"Unfortunately, everybody is at the mercy of results and obviously the results in recent times, somewhat unluckily, haven't been good enough.

"I enjoyed working with him and I thought he did the job to the best of his ability.

"Results betrayed him in the end."

As a member of the board, Lawrence had a hand in the controversial decision to replace popular former manager Kevin Phillips with Sarll at the end of last season.

The legendary Sunderland and England striker was appointed in January - at the time, Sarll was still on gardening leave after being sacked by Woking - with Pools sliding towards the relegation zone.

However, Phillips engineered an instant turnaround as Pools took 13 points from his first five games at the helm.

His progress started to stall somewhat following successive defeats to promotion contenders Solihull Moors and Barnet before Pools were hammered 7-1 by local rivals Gateshead.

All of a sudden, it seemed as though Pools were looking over their shoulders again but Phillips galvanised his side, who beat play-off chasing Halifax three days after shipping seven at the Heed.

A 4-3 victory over relegated Dorking Wanderers secured Pools a comfortable 12th placed finish while their final points total of 60 looked to be enough to earn Phillips a new deal, with the former European Golden Shoe winner telling the Hartlepool Mail he was "very close" to signing a new contract in March.

Instead, a week later Phillips left the club, later alleging Pools had withdrawn their offer of a two year deal, and appointed Sarll instead, a decision that was considered unusual at the time and one that has certainly not aged well.

And Lawrence admits he was surprised at Sarll's lack of success after the club stuck their neck on the line for the former Stevenage, Yeovil and Woking boss.

He said: "I was a little bit surprised.

"I was part of the process. Darren was in the club's thoughts way back but that didn't materialise and we finished the season quite well.

"When you're trying to select a manager or a coach, the first thing you do is profile what you want, then you look at the individuals.

"Darren's profile of 300 games in the league, good success, took Woking to the play-offs and did a good job at Yeovil, the profile seemed to suit.

"On paper it looked good, all the bits seemed to fit.

"A combination of bad luck, the sendings off and the inability to score a goal at the right time all contributed unfortunately."

While Sarll has left the club, his assistant manager Carl Dickinson remains in limbo.

Dickinson, who was Sarll's captain at Yeovil, replaced club legend Antony Sweeney in the spring but has impressed with his strength and conditioning coaching and Lawrence is hoping he'll remain in his post.

"I think he's quite good, I like him," he said.

"He's good at what he does, his strength and conditioning stuff, and he's not a bad coach.

"I'm hoping he stays - I can't clarify anything more than that at the moment - but I'm hoping he stays."

Chairman and owner Raj Singh, who has a mixed record when it comes to managerial appointments, is under growing pressure to get the next one right.

Together with head of football Joe Monks as well as the recently appointed board, the search for a new boss has already begun, with the likes of Pete Wild, Matt Gray and Graeme Murty rumoured to be among the early front-runners.

Lawrence, who will have a role in the forthcoming recruitment process, has stressed the importance of remaining patient as Pools look to make their next appointment a more successful one.

He said: "You've got to understand what Hartlepool is.

"Hartlepool is a working class area and the football club is the focal point of the community, still even in this day and age.

"If you do it well, the fans are passionate, supportive and it's a big club. We're probably one of the biggest four clubs in this league.

"If you're not doing very well, it's a tough gig. You've got to understand the nature of the supporters, they want to see some good football, they want to see some effort and they want to see a winning team.

"My strongest recommendation is that we do not rush, it's got to be right.

"The squad is deep enough, the chairman has provided a perfectly good playing budget. The tools have been provided.

"The management, the coaching staff, whatever you want to call it, have got to mend what appears to be a little bit broken.

"I shall be making strong recommendations."

Maidenhead's home ground of York Road, one of the UK's oldest and most historic football stadiums, is perhaps a fitting venue for Saturday's clash as Lawrence, who is a couple of months shy of his 77th birthday, pits his wits against Magpies boss Alan Devonshire, who is 68.

While Pools come into the game with just one win in their last seven, Maidenhead, who are 19th in the National League following a difficult start to the season, are beginning to find some form and are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning four of those.

Pools have a relatively clean bill of health, although both Anthony Mancini and Adam Campbell are unlikely to be fit enough to start, and Lawrence is relishing the challenge as he prepares to take caretaker charge for the second time in just 10 months.

"There's no point in giving them Churchillian type speeches," he said.

"We'll do our best to get them playing to the best of their ability and get a shape and a way of playing that, hopefully, can get us a result at Maidenhead.

"They need help, some more than others, as a team and as individuals.

"You've got to have empathy, you've got to understand their needs, otherwise you're not going to succeed.

"When the third goal goes in at Brackley, it might be difficult to think of that but that's how it's got to be, the modern day player is a different animal to 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

"Man management is still the single most important thing.

"I'll give it a good go - just as long as I don't keel over!"