Hartlepool United manager has his say on deteriorating condition of pitch at Victoria Park
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits improving his side's home record is "massively high on my priority list" but concedes that the condition of the pitch at Victoria Park is out of his control.
The state of the playing surface in the North East has been a point of contention ever since Pools were relegated back to the National League and several opposition managers, most notably Barnet's Dean Brennan, criticised its condition last season.
It's been impossible to ignore the deterioration of the pitch at Victoria Park, which was once lauded as one of the best in the Football League. Since relegation there has been a remarkable worsening in the condition of the playing surface in the North East.
It has, at times, been painful to see the previously flawless pitch cut up over the winter months in spite of the best efforts of award-winning head groundsman Dave Brown, leading to increasing calls for something to be done.
It's true that, come matchday, the pitch is the same for both teams and that it can't be used as an excuse for Featherstone's side's indifferent home record this term, with Pools having won just four of their 15 matches in all competitions so far this season.
Even so, it seems apparent that the pitch is working against Pools, with Featherstone unable to implement the more possession-based style of play he has often been identified with.
It is perhaps telling that the two best performances of the Featherstone era came during November's win at Eastleigh as well as last month's statement victory away against league leaders Rochdale. The pitch at Eastleigh's Silverlake Stadium, which is sometimes shared with Southampton's women's team, is large and in pristine condition, which allowed Pools to dominate the ball as they dismantled the Spitfires. The win over Rochdale, likewise, was played at the Wham Stadium, the home of League Two Accrington Stanley, while urgent work was carried out at Dale's home ground of Spotland, and was in excellent condition despite the cold weather.
Unlike Rochdale, who were given permission to install a new hybrid playing surface as well as a drainage system following several postponements, Pools will probably have to wait until the summer before any work can be done on the pitch at Victoria Park.
There is, however, hope that Pools will indeed invest in their home ground after American businessman Landon Smith completed his takeover of the club from controversial former owner Raj Singh.
For now, however, Featherstone's hands are tied and the Pools boss will have to find another way of improving his side's home form ahead of back-to-back home games against Altrincham, the first match to be played at Victoria Park since Smith's takeover, and Gateshead.
"The pitch, for me right now, is out of my control," Featherstone said.
"For me, I have to find a way of winning games at home, I don't think we've done that enough over the last few years - and definitely not since I've come in.
"The home form is something I really want to address, getting a good home record is massively high on my priority list.
"I've been involved in the football club from a players' point of view when it's really rocking and it's such a tough place for opposition to come.
"For me, it is massively high on the list of priorities to make us a real fortress at home.
"It's not an easy fix. I think it helps now with the new ownership, the positive vibes around the place will certainly help.
"We've said it before countless times, it's a really tough place to play when things aren't going well but it's the best place - by far - in the league when it's going well. We need to get back to that. It's not an easy fix - but we will get there."