Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone surprised but not shocked by Landon Smith's sudden Pools takeover

Although the 37-year-old said the sudden takeover represented a step into the unknown, he hailed the beginning of a potentially "exciting time" as Pools prepare for life under Smith.

Former owner Raj Singh, who must rank as among the most controversial and divisive figures in Hartlepool United's entire history, first put Pools up for sale in April 2023 after relegation back to the National League was confirmed.

After a period of comparative calm and quiet, Pools were thrown into disarray following Singh's unexpected resignation from his role as chairman in March last year.

At the time, Singh said that "personal abuse and the misrepresentation of information" had made his position "untenable" and vowed 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 being completed, a deal between Singh and Herd International Group, led by Hartlepool-born businesswoman Shelley Hammond, looked to be edging ever closer when it collapsed in dramatic circumstances a fortnight after the end of the season.

In the wake of a bizarre and seemingly ever-changing situation, events took another dramatic twist when Singh returned to his former role as chairman following a hugely controversial vote among season ticket holders held at the end of May.

Yet almost all talk of a takeover seemed to have evaporated following Singh's return, with little to no indication a deal was close, let alone imminent, in the lead up to the stunning news on New Year's Day.

Although Singh's almost eight years in charge have been defined by division, discontent and disappointment on and off the pitch, history could well look more kindly on him if Smith can make a success of his time in charge of Pools.

After all, for all his bullish approach and controversial handling of various situations might have alienated many fans, Singh's decision to step in and, in effect, stave off the threat of looming administration when he first took control of Pools in 2018 was a hugely consequential one.

Even so, a lot of the goodwill Singh worked hard to build up during the first few years of his tenure - Pools were promoted to League Two in 2021 and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup as well as the semi-finals of the Football League Trophy - has been undone since relegation to the National League in 2023.

Since then, Pools have shown few signs of tangible progression either on or off the pitch and attendances have dropped sharply this season, with many supporters choosing to stay away from Victoria Park in protest at Singh's ownership.

While it's true that Smith, who Singh said completed his takeover of the club in around six weeks, represents something of an unknown entity, it's hard to avoid the sense that hope and optimism have been restored to the North East.

For Featherstone, who barring a three-month hiatus when he was released in the summer of 2023 has been at the club for the entirety of Singh's tumultuous tenure, the future could be filled with both peril and potential.

With Pools still in with a fighting chance of gatecrashing the National League play-offs, Featherstone and his side could kick Smith's time in charge off in memorable fashion if they can sneak into the top seven.

Of course, Featherstone will also be mindful of the fact that change does not absolutely guarantee success and it will likely take time before the new boss has a clear idea of what sort of support and backing he can expect, both financially as well as in a purely footballing sense.

Fans will, in all probability, have to be patient before getting a sense of what the future might hold for their side but supporters won't have to wait too much longer until the first home game since the change of ownership, with the visit of Altrincham on January 17 promising to be a memorable occasion in front of a bumper crowd as many Poolies make their long-awaited returns to Victoria Park.

"Usually you get a little inkling or there's a rumour that goes round, but it had been pretty quiet," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.

"We did feel that Raj had been away and that he hadn't spoken to a few people for a couple of weeks, so we did think that something might have been happening.

"I had a phone call from Raj and I was a bit surprised. Not shocked, because the club's been for sale for a long time, so I wasn't shocked but I was surprised by the call and how fast it's all happened.

"Having spoken to him (Raj), he said it happened pretty quickly so here we go, it's a new chapter and a new era now. Let's get ready to go and it's an exciting time I suppose.

"I'm excited, people will be worried because it's the unknown, no one's really spoken to the new owner. I'm due to have a phone call with him, so that will clarify a few things in terms of the direction in which he wants to take it.

"It's an exciting time, I think a lot of fans have asked for this for a long time, so it's an exciting time for them. I don't read social media but I've been told that there's a few that will return for the next home game, which is only a positive for me; if we can get as many people in for home games and help us turn our home form around, then that's a positive.

"For me, I'm excited but, again, it's the unknown."

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