THE man behind the emotive front cover of tomorrow's Hartlepool United matchday programme has been amazed by the response.

Pools will have a sell-out crowd for Saturday's game against Wrexham as fans from clubs across the region and further afield converge on Victoria Park.

Pools are up for sale with debts of £1.8m to owners Sage Investments and face the very real threat of administration.

Almost £60,000 has been raised in an online fundraising campaign, which will ensure staff wages can be paid next week.

Lifelong fan David Carless came up with the design which harks back to when Pools allowed Middlesbrough to play their game against Port Vale at Victoria Park in 1986 when the gates had been locked at Ayresome Park.

It shows a Hartlepool player reaching out to a Boro player for help.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, David said: "I've been following Pools for as long as I can remember and I am 40 now. I started going every week around 25 years ago. I love the club and I am devastated at the thought of us going under.

"I am really hoping that something happens and investors come on board."

David has been a teacher of Art, Photography and Graphic Design for 15 years.

"I have had links with the club for years and have done bits and bobs here and there including H'Angus antics cartoons and various logo designs and illustrations," he said.

"Mark Simpson, media manager at the club, who does a fantastic job phoned me on the way home from work on Wednesday night with a request.

"He said it was short notice but had an idea to make the programme special with it being a special game and didn't want to simply put a player on the cover as usual.

"We discussed the idea of a mountain and Middlesbrough fans and others helping us to the top - or the idea of a helping hand.

"We discussed it for a while and I talked it over with my Dad, an amazing artist whose influence I find invaluable.

"After an hour of Googling and researching, I came up with the concept - the idea of a helping hand - Middlesbrough fans helping us out for '86 and their support will be invaluable. Also the idea of rising up - up the mountain if you like - that I had discussed with Mark.

"I asked my wife Bethany to take some photos of me as reference material so she should take some credit!

"I sent a rough sketch across to Mark by text and he simply said 'incredible' I worked it up to finished standard in about six hours and sent it across to Mark about lunchtime yesterday."

The response has been phenomenal.

"Then my phone has been going crazy with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter notifications tagging me in posts etc and so many positive comments about it I'm blown away with the reaction to it!" he said.

"Hartlepool and Middlesbrough fans seem to love it and I read that it made some people quite emotional. It means a lot that I could do this and will be proud to see it printed tomorrow particularly with a sell out at the Vic.

"There is talk of posters and other things so hopefully it will all contribute to saving the club. I'm just grateful to have been asked to do it."