Darrell Clarke discusses how his time as a Hartlepool United player helped his managerial career with Walsall, Bristol Rovers and Salisbury City

The 42-year-old already has four promotions under his belt since making the step into management a decade ago.

Clarke joined Pools from Mansfield Town in 2001 and went on to make 136 appearances before departing in 2007.

He became player-manager of Salisbury City in 2010 and helped the club to the fifth tier following two play-off victories. He then earned back to back promotions as manager of Bristol Rovers following their relegation to the National League in 2014.

Now in charge at Walsall, the former Pools midfielder feels that his time at Victoria Park continues to influence him today.

“I must say, my time at Hartlepool and the changing room we had put me in good stead to be a football manager,” he said on the Switch of Play Podcast.

“I’ve always been lively and bubbly and I’ve always thought I’m good to have in a changing room if you know what I mean.”

Clarke helped Pools earn promotion from division three in 2003 alongside the likes of Micky Barron, Ritchie Humphreys and Mark Tinkler.

“I don’t think anyone from our side back then would have imagined me being a manager,” Clarke admitted.

“The togetherness that we had as a group with the work ethic was fantastic.

“It wasn’t a case of being good lads on and off the pitch, we also had an unbelievable work ethic and desire to win in training. There were arguments and all sorts in training but we’d go out and have a pint or a bit of banter in the changing room after.

“That put me in good stead as a manager because I knew what a changing room should look like. For me, it’s all about the environment, the changing rooms and the togetherness.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to grow the sort of changing rooms we had at Hartlepool at the clubs I’ve been at as a manager.”

As a former player who has gone on to achieve success in management, Clarke has previously been linked with a return to The Vic.

“I’ve never gone in for the [Hartlepool manager’s] job,” he admitted.

“I was heavily linked when I was at Salisbury at one point and I think the conversation I had with Russ [Green, former Hartlepool chief executive], he might have been interested but I ended up getting a pay rise at Salisbury for that one because I ended up at quite short odds!

“But I loved my time at Hartlepool and you can never rule out [a return].

“I loved the spirit amongst the fans, the passion. They let you know, trust me, you’ve got to be mentally strong to play for Hartlepool and that’s maybe one of the reasons why they’ve probably struggled a little bit.

“You can get a louder cheer for a tackle sometimes than you will a bit of skill and you’ve got to show that 100 per-cent passion to the fans.

“They pay their hard-earned money and they get behind the team so hopefully they will be back in the near future.”