Hartlepool United one of eight National League clubs to continue playing behind closed doors in December following tier three announcement – Notts County, Stockport and Chesterfield also included

A tier system will be reintroduced in England from December 2 with football fans in tier one and two areas permitted to return to stadiums.

But for Hartlepool and the North East, matches will remain behind closed doors due to the region’s ‘very high alert’ status.

Up to 2,000 fans will be allowed to attend matches in tier two areas and up to 4,000 in tier one areas.

No areas in the top five divisions have been placed into tier one but many clubs across the Football League and National League will be allowed to have a maximum of 2,000 fans back in their stadiums from next month.

And Pools are one of eight National League clubs who will continue to play matches behind closed doors.

Halifax Town, Notts County, Chesterfield, Solihull Moors, Altrincham, Stockport County and Dover Athletic also fall under tier three rules and will not be permitted to allow fans into their grounds from December 2.

The remaining 15 clubs, with the exception of Wrexham who fall under Welsh guidance, will be following tier two guidelines.

The tier system will be reviewed every 14 days and be guided by the rate of coronavirus infection in each area.

Over the next month, Pools will face Boreham Wood, King’s Lynn Town, Halifax Town and Stockport County behind closed doors at The Vic.

But their away matches at Woking and Eastleigh could see up to 2,000 fans in attendance. The match at Notts County will remain behind closed doors due to Nottingham falling under tier three restrictions as it stands.

On the restrictions and potential return of fans, Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor said: “It potentially poses a disadvantage when some clubs are allowed fans and chances are we’re not allowed any.

"But with the way things are currently, if you asked the players, just to get into the ground and have a crowd and an atmosphere rather than a sterile situation, that would be somewhere where we’re getting on the way back to normal.”

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