Adam Clayton 'ready to go again' as Hartlepool United work towards managerial appointment
Hartlepool United are working to appoint a new head coach following the departure of Lee Clark earlier this month.
Adam Clayton has insisted he and fellow interim head coach Gary Liddle will be ready to take charge of Hartlepool United’s home game with Tamworth on Saturday.
The duo stepped into the lead roles in the dugout on a temporary basis following Lee Clark’s decision to step down from his role at Victoria Park following a home defeat against Worthing earlier this month. Clayton and Liddle have overseen further losses against Scunthorpe United and Harrogate Town over the last week and will take training once again on Thursday as thoughts turn towards the weekend.
With work ongoing behind the scenes to appoint a permanent successor to Clark, Clayton stressed he is solely focused on preparing a game plan to help his side return to winning ways.
When asked if he and Liddle will be in charge after Tuesday night’s defeat, he said: “I have no idea, I don’t even ask. I would like to say I’m enjoying it but we’ve lost two games. I am enjoying it, I love me and Lids being the voice in the changing room and doing the game plans and all of that sort of stuff. I am happy to keep going for as long as the club need. I’m not going to run away from any situation. I will be there Thursday morning, ready to go again with a game plan to beat Tamworth and if we turn up like we did tonight, with the energy, the mindset, I think we will win the game.”
‘He’ll be looking to do whatever is best for the club’
Pools owner and chairman Landon Smith was in attendance for Tuesday night’s defeat and will be back for Saturday’s game. Clayton revealed he spoke with Smith at the club’s Maiden Castle training base earlier this week and insisted the American businessman will ‘do whatever is best for the club’ as a new managerial appointment moves closer.
“I spoke to him the other day, a really nice guy. He came down to the training ground. I think he’s here for Saturday as well so hopefully we can send him back with a win. He’ll be looking to do whatever is best for the club in the next however long it takes. We will back him with that.”
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