Hartlepool United youth team coach Ian McGuckin discusses caretaker role with first team and returning back to normality following Dave Challinor appointment

McGuckin assisted Antony Sweeney for five matches as the club searched diligently for a new manager following Craig Hignett’s dismissal in early October.

Pools went on to win three consecutive games under Sweeney and McGuckin’s temporary stewardship prior to the appointment of Dave Challinor.

Both McGuckin and Sweeney were subject to plenty of praise for their conduct during a crucial period for the club as they took charge of the first and youth teams simultaneously for the best part of a month.

Pools chief executive Mark Maguire said: “Both Sweens and Ian McGuckin have been different class in the way they have gone about things and essentially doubling their workload on behalf of the club.

“They are a credit to the club and we are extremely grateful to them.”

It’s been three weeks since McGuckin resumed his full-time role with the youth team following Challinor’s arrival and the former Pools defender is pleased with how things have worked out for both himself and the club.

“We’re all settled now which is nice,” he said.

“The new gaffer has came in with Joe [Parkinson] and they’re really nice guys so I’m happy things are settling down just back to the normal day to day job. I have enjoyed being up with the first team but my job is with the youth team and that’s what I’ll be putting all of my time and effort into.”