5 managers Hartlepool United could target after Nicky Featherstone exit - including Matt Hamshaw & Graham Coughlan
Who could succeed Nicky Featherstone as Hartlepool United manager?
Nicky Featherstone’s Hartlepool United managerial reign officially came to an end with Saturday’s defeat at National League rivals Boston United.
The former Pools midfielder stepped up to take interim charge of his old club in October last year following the departure of Simon Grayson and an upturn in form saw Featherstone handed the reins on a permanent basis less than two months later. The arrival of new owner and chairman Landon Smith raised hopes the momentum caused by a number of eye-catching wins could lead to a successful push for the play-off places in non-league’s top tier.
However, some damaging defeats in the final two months of the season meant a top seven spot remained out of reach and Featherstone’s departure was confirmed two weeks ago following a club-wide review conducted by football recruitment and advisory firm Bromby and Partners. Thoughts have already turned towards who could replace Featherstone and guide Pools throughout what will be Smith’s first summer as owner - and the outgoing boss has already called for support for his successor.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat at Boston, Featherstone delivered a message to supporters, saying: “What we have seen is a brilliant fanbase that have come and cheered the lads on and I think there were over 500 of them in fancy dress for a great cause so that’s the thing to cheer about today. I wanted to win, I wanted the 71 points to be honest. That was selfish of me, it was personal, that’s what I wanted but for them to come and see a goal is important but I wanted to win the game. Thank you for your support over the six months I’ve been in charge. Thank you for your support over the 12 years I’ve been here but just make sure you get behind the next guy in charge and the next team that represents the football club because we will get it right over the next couple of seasons, I’m pretty convinced of that and we will give ourselves the best opportunity to move forward.”
So who could step into Featherstone’s shoes and take charge at the Prestige Group Stadium this summer? We take a look at five possible options and there are some very familiar faces amongst them.
5 managers Hartlepool United could target after Nicky Featherstone exit
Matt Hamshaw
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Mansfield Town winger is out of work following his departure from Rotherham United last month and is a former Owls team-mate of Leigh Bromby, a director at Bromby and Partners. Hamshaw held coaching roles with Derby County and the Millers during his career before he was appointed as interim manager of the latter in March 2025. That role became a permanent one just one month later as he guided the club to a mid-table finish in League One on the back of consecutive wins against Northampton Town, Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers. However, the current season has been one of struggle and the newly-relegated Millers opted to part company with Hamshaw last month as they looked to preserve their third tier status.
Chris Beech
Beech made over 100 appearances for Pools during a two-year spell at Victoria Park in the mid-to-late 1990s before ending his playing career with spells at Huddersfield Town and Rochdale. Coaching spells with Bury and Rochdale preceded a step into management with Carlisle United in 2019 before he was appointed as AFC Fylde director of football and then manager just over two years later. Beech was linked with the Pools vacancy prior to Featherstone’s appointment and confirmed he had held talks with a number of clubs - although stopped short of confirming whether he had held discussions with his old club.
Darrell Clarke
Another former Pools favourite, Clarke made over 125 appearances for the club during his playing career and was part of the squad that earned promotion from what is now League Two in 2003. As a manager, Clarke has flourished by earning promotions with Salisbury City, Bristol Rovers and Port Vale - but has been out of work since leaving Rovers in December last year. Clarke would also bring National League experience from his time at Salisbury and Bristol Rovers.t
Graham Coughlan
The former Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday defender has spent the last eight years in various managerial roles after initially taking charge of Bristol Rovers following Darrell Clarke’s departure in December 2018. After avoiding relegation from League One during the same season, Coughlan departed for Mansfield Town 12 months after his initial appointment after guiding Rovers into the play-off spots. However, a poor start to his first full season in charge saw his Field Mill reign ended in October 2020. Since then, Coughlan has had spells with Newport County and Boston United - but left Pools’ National League rivals in January this year. Pools made an unsuccessful approach for Coughlan during his final summer in charge of Boston before turning their attention towards former Sunderland and Leeds United boss Simon Grayson.
Mat Sadler
A former Birmingham City and Watford full-back, Sadler has only had one managerial stint and that came with Walsall. Saddler was appointed as Sadlers’ manager on an interim basis in April 2023 before being named as permanent boss just over a month later. He guided his side to the top of League Two in January last year but a poor run of form meant automatic promotion remained out of reach and their pain was increased by a play-off final defeat against Wimbledon at the end of the season. Sadler’s men actually made a positive start to the current season and were top of the fourth tier in the early months of the season before another slump saw them slide into mid-table and that led to his departure last month.
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