Emotions got the better of me admits Hartlepool United boss after red card

Nicky Featherstone believes his ‘emotions got the better of him’ as he prepares to watch Hartlepool United’s game at Truro City from the stands.

Pools will make the long trip to the south coast looking to reignite a flagging bid for the National League play-off places and bounce back from last weekend’s deeply disappointing home defeat against top seven rivals FC Halifax Town. An incident in the aftermath of that loss saw Featherstone shown a red card by referee Richie Watkins after he protested over a decision not to award Pools a penalty after Matty Daly appeared to have been fouled in the area in second half injury-time.

Featherstone gave an insight into his side of the situation and stressed that although he ‘wasn’t overly aggressive’ towards the officials, he had allowed his post-match frustration to take over.

He told BBC Radio Tees: “I was saying a few words I shouldn’t say in the moment. It’s an emotional game, we felt it was a penalty at the time but the ref has a difficult job, we understand that. But in the moment, a big game, it was seventh versus ninth, we score that penalty and it’s the difference between five points outside of the play-offs to two points outside of the play-offs. It probably just got the better of me after the game.

“It wasn’t overly aggressive but I just think he felt I’d come on to confront him. But if you look at my previous history in terms of going on the pitch to shake the referee’s hand, it was as simple as that. Seeing him, I said something I shouldn’t have, and I’m paying the price on Saturday. It was nothing more, nothing less, we understand the refs have a really tough job to do and in that split second, the emotions have got the better of me.”

Communication

Assistant manager Gary Liddle will oversee matters from the touchline in Saturday’s game at Truro as he goes head-to-head with a home side managed by former Pools boss John Askey. The game could have consequences at either end of the National League table as Featherstone’s side look to re-energise their push for a play-off place and their hosts aim to boost their efforts to avoid relegation back into the National League South.

Featherstone has revealed he will still be able to speak to his players before the game, at half-time and full-time and is hopeful he can remain in communication with Liddle and his coaching staff during the game itself.

He said: “It’s slightly different. It won’t affect too much, I’ll get to go in before the game, half-time and I am sure there will be some sort of communication line to the bench somehow, even if I have to go down. It is slightly different for me but it is what it is. It’s out of my control now, this is what happens but I don’t think it will change too much.”

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