Hartlepool United manager hails Landon Smith's takeover as 'an exciting chapter' for Pools

The American businessman and investor, who is the co-founder of real estate company Tailwind Group, completed a surprise takeover of Pools on New Year's Eve.

Although former owner Raj Singh, whose much-debated legacy is likely to be hotly-contested over the coming weeks and months, had first put Pools up for sale in April 2023, when the club were relegated back to the National League, there had been little to no suggestion that a takeover deal was in progress, let alone imminent.

Indeed, many Pools fans who had long been calling for a change in ownership must have been beginning to lose heart in the wake of a comparatively quiet few months at Victoria Park following one of the most remarkable, controversial and divisive summer's in the club's entire history.

Pools were thrown into relative chaos in March last year following Singh's sudden and unexpected resignation from his role as chairman. At the time, Singh, who said that "personal abuse and the misrepresentation of information" had made his position "untenable", announced his intention to complete a sale of the club by the end of the season in May.

Although the conclusion of another underwhelming National League campaign came and went without a takeover, a deal between Singh and Herd International Group, led by Hartlepool-born businesswoman Shelley Hammond, appeared to be edging ever closer when it collapsed in dramatic circumstances.

With the fallout still raging, Singh returned to his former role as chairman following a hugely contested vote among season ticket holders towards the end of May before appointing Simon Grayson as the club's new manager the following month.

Although Singh had continued to attract controversy since then and attendances at Victoria Park were dwindling as many fans chose to stay away in protest at the club's ownership, there was a growing feeling that things had returned to a sort of uncomfortable status quo prior to the news of Smith's takeover.

Indeed, the announcement seemed to catch pretty much everyone unawares, with both Featherstone and vice-captain Nathan Sheron revealing their surprise at the sudden news last week. Singh, meanwhile, said the deal took around six weeks to complete, remarkable given the long and drawn-out nature of previous negotiations.

Following the takeover, Smith revealed his "immediate priority is to ensure a smooth transition period and to support the current staff and team with their endeavours this season".

While Smith's takeover will of course remain the talk of the town for some time to come, Featherstone and his side will likely already be doing their best to focus on this weekend's long trip to Woking, which was rescheduled to Saturday, January 10 after the initial fixture fell foul of the freezing weather.

For Pools, a place in the National League play-offs still remain very much a distinct possibility, especially after their superb win over leaders Rochdale last time out, while Featherstone, whose contract runs until the end of the season, will doubtless be desperate to prove to Smith that he is the right man to lead the club in the longer-term.

While a lot, then, will of course depend on what happens in the boardroom as well as the corridors of power over the next few months, Pools also have the chance to get Smith's tenure off to a positive start on the pitch.

To do that, Pools can ill-afford too many more slip-ups if they're to gatecrash the play-off places, with seventh-placed Southend currently boasting a four-point cushion as well as two games in hand, while the likes of Halifax, who are eighth, and in-form Solihull Moors, who are 10th, are also poised and in contention.

Yet Pools will surely feel as though they now have a real opportunity, with the change in ownership creating momentum all of its own and a packed crowd expected for the first home game of the Smith era, the visit of Altrincham on Saturday, January 17.

Indeed, while this weekend's trip to a Woking side who won't have given up on the play-offs themselves looks set to be a stern test, Pools have a favourable run of matches throughout January and a series of wins could prove to be a real statement of their promotion credentials.

So, while change doesn't guarantee success and Featherstone admits the new ownership represents something of a step into the unknown, the Pools boss hailed the takeover as "an exciting chapter" when speaking to BBC Radio Tees Sport.

"It's definitely an exciting time for the club," he said.

"I don't know the ins and outs of what he (Smith) is going to invest, so that's just pure speculation until we speak and other people clarify that.

"I think it's an exciting chapter, a lot of the fans have wanted this for a long time.

"It's an exciting time for the club and, hopefully, we can move forward and have some positive times to come."

Your next Hartlepool United read: Former Hartlepool United star linked with big money move to Championship side