Outgoing Hartlepool United manager 'incredibly proud' following remarkable 4-3 win over Southend United but still 'no idea' on Victoria Park future
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone admits he has "no idea" whether or not he'll be at Victoria Park next season following his side's thrilling 4-3 win over promotion hopefuls Southend United.
Although successive home victories is too little, too late for Pools as far as the National League play-offs are concerned, their recent revival will certainly provide food for thought for new owner Landon Smith, who was watching on from the stands at Victoria Park, as well as specialist football consultancy firm Bromby and Partners, set to be at the forefront of significant change on and off the pitch over the summer.
Since Pools revealed that Featherstone was set to step down at the end of the season after deciding he did not fit the profile of manager the club were looking for, the 37-year-old has masterminded back-to-back wins over promotion hopefuls Forest Green Rovers and Southend.
True, those results should be taken with a pinch of salt given the fact the pressure is off Pools, who have often struggled under the weight of expectation this term, while both Forest Green and the Shrimpers had already secured their place in the top seven prior to their arrivals in the North East, it has nonetheless been an encouraging response following a miserable run of four games without a win and almost seven hours without scoring - not to mention an indication that the Pools players are still prepared to fight for the outgoing Featherstone, who has held "initial discussions" about remaining at Victoria Park in a coaching capacity.
In a game that was full of goalmouth action but sometimes lacking in genuine quality, Pools responded to going behind inside 60 seconds through Andrew Dallas by firing themselves into a 4-1 lead thanks to a brace from the excellent Tyrese Sinclair, Alex Reid's 12th goal of the season and a deflected effort from Jamie Miley.
Southend, who made seven changes from their thumping 6-2 win over Halifax Town at the weekend and likely already have more than one eye on their upcoming play-off campaign, battled back and ensured Pools had to endure a nervy finish thanks to goals from Sam Austin and Charlie Kendall.
For Pools - and, indeed, for Featherstone - the big question now is what might have been, while Smith and his team of advisors will have to work out how to overcome inconsistency that has ultimately derailed their play-off push this term; Pools got the better of high flyers like Rochdale, taking four points from their two matches with the title chasers, Carlisle United, Forest Green and Southend this term but slipped up against far too many of the so-called lesser teams, losing against Wealdstone, Aldershot Town and Woking by an aggregate score of 14-0.
"It was an incredible game of football," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees Sport.
"There were two quality teams on the night, you can see why they (Southend) are right up there.
"I'm buzzing for the group, it's been a really difficult five or six days for everyone and it's still a really difficult time for the group, there's a lot of uncertainty.
"For them to put in the two performances and get two results against two teams that are right up there is credit to them; they were quality tonight.
"It was a tough start, we conceded a weird goal, a comical goal from our point of view, inside 30 seconds but to respond like we did and get back into the game like we did was credit to the lads.
"In the second half, I thought we took control for the first 20 minutes and we looked a real threat on the counter-attack because we saw that Southend were leaving two against two at the back at times and we just felt like if we could get the ball forward, then we'd hurt them. I thought Reidy (Alex Reid) and Tyrese (Sinclair) were quality in terms of leading the line up front tonight.
"We had to change the formation slightly to get a foothold in the game in the first half and we managed to get closer to Southend after doing that, the lads applied themselves and that's all I ask for at this stage; it's difficult for them, but they've applied themselves and got their rewards tonight.
"If you look at the last five games, we've played five of the top seven and we've got two wins, two draws and a defeat. We were well-beaten at Boreham Wood in the second half.
"We're competitive, we're good. It's disappointing that we couldn't make the play-offs but it was against the odds and we were well behind when we took over.
"The group was fragile, so for them to go and get 68 points is credit to them and it shows the resilience that is in the group, we've just had to get it out of them a little differently.
"We've found ways of winning and 68 points last year would have got us in the play-offs, I'm incredibly proud of the group.
"I've got no idea (about his own future), I've got a meeting with Landon. It's not a meeting in terms of what my role is going to be or anything like that, it's the first time I've seen him since the decision's been made.
"It's important I get a face-to-face meeting with him and he gives me his reasons. I want to improve, this isn't the end for me and I want to be a manager in the future.
"If there's any feedback he can give me in terms of why the decision's been made and what I can do better, then that will only help me going forward."