Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor discussing the 'horrible' and 'ruthless' player contract process as he prepares for the return of football

The Pools manager had a ‘Zoom’ meeting with the club’s hierarchy on Friday afternoon to discuss budgets and plans for the coming months in preparation for football’s return.

The 2019-20 National League regular season is over and member clubs have submitted their views regarding the feasibility of the play-offs still going ahead.

It is unlikely that Hartlepool will be significantly affected by the decision as their focus is firmly on managing the business side of the club behind the scenes.

Chairman Raj Singh revealed this week that he’s spent over £2 million since arriving at Pools and is desperate to make the club more sustainable in order to attract investors.

Players and staff at the club have taken a wage cut and been placed on furlough while others have been made redundant in order to cut losses during this precarious period.

“This is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone and from the players' point of view, everyone is in an individual situation that’s unique to them,” Challinor admitted.

“Family circumstances, contract length, bills and outgoings, so many variables.

“Although I can’t go into detail, I must say the players have been fantastic in understanding the situation that ours, like every football club, is in at present and every single player and staff member agreed to the furlough and wage reduction as a result.”

Despite all the uncertainty, Challinor is currently working on Pools’ retained list which so far includes eight players: Ben Killip, Gus Mafuta, Luke Molyneux, Ryan Donaldson, Aidan Keena, Brad Young, Gavan Holohan and Nicky Featherstone, whose new contract was announced earlier this week.

Most other players’ contracts will expire today [Saturday, May 2] while some run until the end of June.

New deal discussions are ongoing with those out-of-contract players.

“One of the variables I’ve mentioned was player contracts,” Challinor added, in his manager’s blog.

“This is, even in normal circumstances, the horrible part of being a football manager as I am potentially affecting peoples livelihoods.

“It’s the ruthless part where, as a staff, we make decisions on how we think we can improve next season.

“We do this, very aware of the application, attitude and commitment that the players have given us since we came into the club.

“I will thank them sincerely for their efforts over the past three or four months and this gives me a chance to thank them publicly.

“We have a group of players whose contracts expire in the next week – but regardless I will be speaking to all players and we will make public a retained/released list in due course when those conversations have taken place.

“In the meantime, negotiations continue with players we want to keep at the club moving forward and in the main, conversations have been positive.”