Dan Dodds opens up on Hartlepool United departure after 'difficult' period
The former Hartlepool United star is relishing life with National League North promotion hopefuls South Shields.
Dan Dodds has opened up on his summer departure from Hartlepool United after making an impressive start to life with new club South Shields.
The former Middlesbrough academy defender joined Pools in January 2023 and went on to make 47 appearances during a two-and-a-half year stay at the Prestige Group Stadium. Dodds enjoyed a promising introduction to his Pools career with two goals in six League Two appearances but was unable to help the club remain in the EFL and suffered a cruciate ligament injury within the opening month of the following campaign. The wing-back struggled to find form and fitness during the remainder of his time with Pools and was allowed to join South Shields during the summer.
Discussing his departure from Pools and his move to the National League North promotion hopefuls, Dodds admitted he had endured a difficult period in his career and insisted a ‘reset’ was required to help him move forwards once again.
Speaking after Tuesday night’s win over Radcliffe, the former Pools man said: “Coming off the back of last season, where it was difficult and I was in and out during a season that was difficult for me personally and for Pools, my main aim for this season was to play as much football as I could and to enjoy myself. I wasn’t able to do that for Pools last season for one reason or another but I am enjoying myself here.
“I wanted a fresh start. My time at Pools, I really enjoyed it, especially at the start and obviously it’s difficult when you’re injured and especially seeing the team and the way the club was going. It was difficult to see especially because when I first got there, it was unbelievable and the club has got so much potential, it’s an incredible club but coming away, having a reset and going again was the best thing for me.”
Potential
Dodds has made an impressive start to life in the second tier of the non-league game after helping the Mariners to a seven-game unbeaten run that has taken them to the top of the National League North table after the first month of the new season.
The former Pools man grabbed his first goal for his new club in a recent home win against Chester and produced a solid display as his side battled to a 3-0 victory against Radcliffe in midweek to move three points clear at the top of the table. With 19 points collected from a possible 21, there are hopes South Shields could join Pools in non-league’s top tier in the near future - and Dodds believes the South Tyneside club are ‘definitely ready’ to make the biggest step yet on their journey up the football pyramid.
He said: “You can see the potential here and speaking to Lee Picton in the background, he gave me all of the words I needed to hear about the ambition here. You can see it on and off the pitch, we are definitely ready to step up and from the conversations I’ve had with Lee, the club are definitely ready to make that step up to the next level.”