Hartlepool United midfielder hails Landon Smith's Pools takeover as an 'exciting' chapter for the club
Hartlepool United midfielder Jack Hunter has hailed Landon Smith's takeover of the club as an "exciting" time for Pools.
Pools are gearing up to play their first home game since the American businessman and investor, who is the co-founder of real estate company Tailwind Group, completed his purchase of the club from controversial former owner Raj Singh.
While Singh's legacy is likely to be hotly-debated over the coming weeks and months - on the one hand, he stepped in to stave off the looming threat of administration in 2018, paving the way for the club's promotion back to the Football League in 2021, but on the other, his decisions culminated in relegation back to the National League two years later while the latter stages of his tenure were overshadowed by unprecedented division and discontent - it's hard to avoid the sense that positivity, optimism and hope have returned to the North East in the wake of Smith's takeover.
Indeed, although Singh leaves the club on much firmer financial footing than he found it, in purely footballing terms Pools have made little to no progress and many fans had opted to stay away from Victoria Park in silent protest at his divisive ownership. Of course, the American represents something of an unknown entity and there is no guarantee he will be able to deliver either stability or success but Pools fans have nonetheless universally embraced the change so far.
Having endured a nightmarish start to the new era as Pools were thrashed by Woking 4-0 at the weekend, Hunter and his teammates are now gearing up for what has the potential to be a momentous game against Altrincham on Saturday. With a bumper home crowd expected and Nicky Featherstone's side's National League play-off hopes hanging in the balance, this weekend's visit of a Robins outfit who have lost all of their last five matches is a game Pools are expected to win.
Yet for all the fanfare and excitement that has followed the news of Smith's takeover, it's worth remembering that for the Pools squad, it also ushers in a period of potential uncertainty.
For now, though, Hunter insists Pools are embracing the news as they bid to mark Smith's first visit to Victoria Park with a much-needed three points.
"As players we don't look too much into these things, it's our job just to get on with things," the midfielder, who has been a regular in the Pools side under Featherstone, said.
"It's exciting for the club and for the town, everyone wants this club to succeed and everyone wants this club to push on and do well.
"If this is what this means, then everyone that's involved with this football club will be happy."