Dave Challinor comments on his Hartlepool United future following promotion to the Football League and links to Tranmere Rovers, Morecambe and Wrexham jobs

The man who led Hartlepool United back to the EFL in his first full season in charge has been the subject of much speculation, largely from bookmakers, regarding vacant managerial positions at the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Morecambe and Wrexham over the past couple of months.

But the Pools boss is expecting to be in the dugout for his side’s first game back in League Two on August 7.

“Yeah, as far as I know [I’ll be in the Hartlepool dugout],” Challinor said.

“There has been speculation over the past two months in terms of different jobs for me and it’s great to be linked but I haven’t had a phone call off any single football club.”

Challinor is contracted at Victoria Park until next summer but chairman Raj Singh has made it one of his priorities to secure his manager’s future beyond that.

Initial discussions between Challinor and the club have already taken place with Singh due to sit down with him this week to address his future.

“From my perspective, the chairman spoke about contracts and how we move forward, obviously things need to be right,” Challinor admitted.

"The bigger thing for me is not about where or what it means to Dave Challinor it’s about where the football club wants to get to and where the chairman sees the club not just short term but medium term and long term.”

"This will make it a massive amount easier because going into the Football League, this game, and I don’t want people to think I’m stupid here, but this game is as big as going from the Championship to the Premier League.

He told BBC Radio Tees: "Funding wise, we’re going to get 20 times what we get in the National League and for this football club it’s huge.”

"We’ve got to maximise that because our supporters are brilliant and they’ll give their last pound to support this club.

"Not that we’ll take that off them but they deserve to be where they are.”

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