In profile: Who is Hartlepool United's new chief executive?

While releasing details of their season ticket offerings for 2018/19, Pools revealed that Maguire has taken on the high-profile role.

His appointment represents one of the first key off-field steps for Raj Singh after taking over as owner as the club - with Maguire replacing Pam Duxbury as chief executive.

He's an experienced head in football, but who is Mark Maguire?

We profile the man looking set to lead Pools' day-to-day operations:

Who is he and where has he worked before?

Maguire is a seasoned head in football, especially in the lower leagues, and Pools will become the fourth club he has worked at.

His history in the industry, and especially in senior management positions, will no doubt serve him well as he embarks on this new challenge at Hartlepool.

Maguire's career in football began at Stockport County where he served as managing director, before he moved on to Hull City where he assumed the post of chief executive.

After leaving Hull he took some time out of the game and went self-employed, offering consultancy services to the hospitality and sport industries.

But Maguire returned to football in 2016 as he took up the post of CEO at Chester - a role he left in April of this year.

Why did he leave Chester?

Maguire's departure from the Deva Stadium was announced in January, although he didn't leave his post until April.

After Chester were faced with financial difficulties, it was decided that the role was no longer viable and the Chester Fans United (CFU) board opted to scrap the CEO role.

A CFU statement issued at the timeread: "Over the last few weeks the Board, along with a number of key stakeholders, have been reviewing the way that City Fans United and Chester Football Club operate from a business perspective in what is currently a difficult and challenging commercial environment.

"Associated with this review, and the subsequent impact on operations, the decision has been made by the board to make the role of Chief Executive Officer, occupied by Mark Maguire, redundant.

"The Board would like to acknowledge the significant work and contribution Mark has made to the Club since 2016, in particular his professionalism and development of close working relationships with a number of strategic partners."

What will his role at Pools be?

Similar to most chief executive roles at football clubs, Maguire is likely to be heavily involved in the day-to-day strategic operation of the football club - although no official remit has been given for his job just yet.

In an interview with the Mail, Singh hinted that while he wants to be hands on, his businesses may have to take priority.

He said: “Ideally I will be involved and on call all the time.

"But one other thing I have learned is that it is important to keep the football club and business separate. What will keep the money coming in is my business.

"I will not get anyone from my own business involved in the club. I am hoping my involvement will be as little as possible because that means things are going well. But I am there if needed.”

Maguire, therefore, may be tasked with the running of the club while Singh focuses on his business interests.

He's already inspiring the next generation of supporters

One of Maguire's first acts as chief executive was to make season tickets free for under-12s, when bought with a paying adult.

READ: Hartlepool United freeze adult season ticket prices and reveal FREE Under-12 offerAnd this - Maguire believes - is key to inspiring the next generation of supporters to come and watch Pools.

Speaking to the club's official website, he explained:

“It’s vitally important that we encourage and grow the next generation of Poolies.

“With new ownership we’d love to come in and slash price but we have to be realistic; the Club relies upon the loyalty of its fantastic supporters, who showed last season what they are prepared to do to ensure we survive for the long-term.

“What we can do though, is reward families and, by making sure a Season Ticket is more accessible to them, we are safeguarding the long-term future of the Club.

“We are always committed to providing an entertaining and competitive environment where the players will run through a brick wall for the shirt. We will do our bit and, if we can encourage fans to back us once again, then we have a real chance of building something and getting this great Club back where it belongs.”