Jack Hunter was named Hartlepool United captain in the summer by former head coach Lee Clark.

Pete Wild insists there is so much work to do at Hartlepool United that the captaincy issue isn’t high on his list of priorities.

Jack Hunter was named Pools skipper in the summer by former head coach Lee Clark, a move which divided the fanbase it is fair to say. Hunter has been deployed in central midfield and central defence this season so far but was dropped for the weekend defeat to Marine in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round. Reiss McNally, named vice-captain in the summer, led the side in Hunter’s absence, with the 29-year-old former Halifax and Gateshead player benched.

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Wild, speaking before the humiliating FA Cup defeat to National League North side Marine, told the Mail: “If I'm really honest with you, I haven't really thought about it. There's so much to do. Whoever wears a captain armband, it ain't really a priority for me at the moment. The priority is winning football matches and getting the team playing in the right direction.

“Who holds the captaincy? It's not bothering me. It's probably halfway on the to-do list and the to-do list is massive. So I think that's probably the answer to that question.”

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Pools are enduring a torrid campaign with the defeat to Marine another low point that left boss Wild raging post-match. They have a free week on the training ground with Hornchurch the visitors to The Vic on Saturday in the National League. While Pools are battling at the wrong end of the division, they do head into the game on the back of the 4-2 win over Forest Green Rovers last time out in the league.

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