'I totally understand..' - Nicky Featherstone discusses his Hartlepool United future
Nicky Featherstone has provided an update on his own future at the club.
Nicky Featherstone has been speaking about his own future at Hartlepool United amid uncertainty for both the players and boss heading into the summer.
National League Pools, in 9th on 62 points, face Forest Green at The Vic on Saturday with little to play for on the pitch heading into the final three games of the season. But there is a great deal at stake for the players and Featherstone over the coming weeks with their futures very much up in the air.
Earlier this year it was announced Pools had appointed Bromby and Partners "to lead and support transition in the club's football department ahead of next season". Pools are now four months into a new era following American businessman Landon Smith's takeover of the club from Raj Singh on New Year's Eve. And with the majority of the contracts up this season, it has been an uncertain time for the players. But how is Featherstone managing that change from being a player seeking clarity, to the manager players are now coming to for answers.
Featherstone, speaking to BBC Tees, said: “I don't get too high or too low with my emotions. I understand the situation that we're in. My future is uncertain as well. I'm in the same boat as the players.
“I'd like to have a few more answers for the players right now but I totally understand were we're at as a football club right now. This isn't a regular thing is it? This is a change of ownership who's going through a process in sorting things out on the football side.
“A little bit different to how we'd like to do it and what would normally be done at this stage of the season but totally understandable from the club's point of view. How am I dealing with it in that sense? All we can do is crack on until we're told otherwise or we're told to plan for the future. That's exactly what I do.
“I'm not one to think too far ahead in terms of I've got a job to do. I think we've got nine or 10 days left haven't we? I'll focus on these nine or 10 days and then we'll go again after that.”
When pressed on any further clarity on his own future, Featherstone added: “I've been in contact with Bromby and Partners and people there. We've got Chris Maxwell at the club here but then we've also got Stuart Webber and Leigh Bromby from afar who are overseeing things as well.
“I've had a few conversations with them. It's a process and Landon, as the owner of the football club, has to make sure that whoever is in charge of this football club moving forward is the right person for him personally but also with the help of this company. We'll probably get more clarity over the next 10 days.“
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