Hartlepool United manager Dave Challinor's 'big hope' with crowds set to return in the National League before the end of the season

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed plans to allow up to 4,000 fans back into sports stadiums from May 17 – just in time for the final matches of the National League season.

Pools travel to Sutton United before having a blank final day due to Dover Athletic ending their season early.

But manager Dave Challinor is still hopeful to see fans back at Victoria Park before the end of the campaign.

“It’s a positive step, I don’t think we play a home game after fans are allowed back in though so I suppose that’s the frustrating part,” he told The Mail.

“If we can keep doing what we’re doing and get ourselves in the play-offs come the back end of the season then we could have some really exciting games to look forward to.

"There would be no better advantage for us than getting a home game and having 4,000 Poolies there really behind us and pushing the players on.

"In my opinion, that would be no less than the players deserve because we’ve brought a lot of them in here and sold the club in terms of they’ll have the chance to play in front of an unbelievable fan base.

"They’ve not seen that properly, they’ve heard about it and other players have told them and they’ve seen videos on Twitter but there’s nothing like the actual feeling of it.

"My big hope is that when crowds are allowed back in that away fans are too so our supporters can get to an away game and see us in the flesh which is something they’ve not had the opportunity to do for some time.”

Pools currently sit third in the National League table and would have to finish in the top five in order to guarantee a play-off match at Victoria Park.

Winning the league outright is an ambitious target as it stands but it would prevent fans from seeing Pools in the flesh unless they were to rearrange a home match for the final day.

Only Weymouth and Hartlepool are without a game on May 29. The Terras are set to play Pools at Victoria Park on April 24 meaning there is plenty of opportunity to get that match rearranged for the final day and ensure a proper ending to the campaign in front of supporters.

While Challinor is open to that idea, he’s not confident Pools’ opponents will be.

“We could potentially look at rearranging a fixture,” he added.

“But with rearranging games, you’re reliant on two other parties, the National League and the opposition team.

"If I was an opposition manager, would I want to rock up at The Vic and play in front of a hostile and buzzing home crowd? No, no I wouldn’t, I’d be saying we’ll just stick to the original game thanks!

"If we can, it would be great but we have to see where we are and whether that opportunity arises.”

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