SO WHERE do Hartlepool United go from here?

Well there’s Guiseley, Gateshead, Chester and AFC Flyde for starters as they start life in the National League following Saturday’s devastating relegation.

After 109 years of football, Pools will be playing outside the confines of the Football League come August.

That much is certain; what is not so sure, however, is the future of the club.

With a chairman standing down last week following two years and sheer decline on and off the pitch under Gary Coxall’s watch and without a permanent manager after the carnage created by Dave Jones was ended too late, Pools have some big decisions ahead.

How is Coxall’s share of the club going to be carved up or sold? He will be lucky to get £600 never mind the figure of 100 times that which was raised at a fans’ panel meeting last week.

There’s endless people queuing up to pay £600,000 for half ownership of a former Football League club isn’t there?

When he arrived, it was revealed Coxall had previously been made bankrupt. .He held his hands up and admitted so.

Now he’s left he leaves the club bankrupt, down and out.

A statement last week from the club’s new chief executive revealed Coxall holds a 50 per cent stake, with Duxbury holding half that amount, the same as Sage Investments, the company she is associated with.

Pools will have a huge financial void to fill as a result of falling into the National League.

And on the pitch there’s a lot to arrange; and quickly.

Who will take over as boss? Matthew Bates, alongside Billy Paynter, has done a good job of lifting the players in two weeks after Jones’ exit, but is he ready for the job?

This is, make no mistake, the biggest appointment in the club’s history. One which they cannot get wrong.

And it would take some doing to get it as badly wrong as they did last time. As Jones eats his sausage sandwiches this morning, the former boss can reflect on a glorious stain on his career record.

He took 13 points from 51, drained all confidence, belief and ability from the players and is the footballing reason Pools have gone down.

As Bates – and skipper Nicky Featherstone said on Saturday evening – changing the management team two weeks earlier would have kept Pools up.

Staff and players wanted him sacked, but their words weren't heeded and when it came it was too late. The damage had already been done. 

They had four games under Jones against teams so badly out of form, they were bankers to secure safety.

Instead by the time they took two points from desperately poor performances against Morecambe, Carlisle, Orient and Barnet they were second bottom.

Pools were poor under Craig Hignett before he was sacked, the players were unable to dig results out throughout the season.

But under Jones it was a different level altogether.

“The performance gives us something, but later it’s forgotten about,’’ reflected Bates. “We have been relegated. For the players, staff, myself, coaches it sends us into next year with a plan to get back where it belongs for the fans.’’

Is he ready for the job of leading Pools?

“I’ve just been relegated, it’s a difficult one to answer, but I want the job at some point in my life. Is it now? I don’t know.

“The players reacted to me well and I can be proud of them. Possibly I can look at it pre-season. I’ve been humbled. From playing to managing, the reaction has humbled me. I would like to lead this group of players, but I don’t know yet.

“Ask me a month ago and I would say no chance of being in this situation. I’ve been given it in tough circumstances and I’ve enjoyed the work which comes with it.’’

Bates was in charge, backed up by Billy Paynter. Two players who Dave Jones didn’t want at the club almost corrected the damage caused.

“We have been brilliant together, we had time together before the game where we thanked each other,’’ said Bates of his coaching team which includes Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher. “The reaction of the players said a lot, they thanked us for what we have done.

“I said last week we had questions asked about this squad. Not fit enough? Too many technical players? Can they keep clean sheets? Can they score?

“Every question asked they answered. We beat a team promoted and we battered them second-half.’’

In the second-half, there was an atmosphere inside Victoria Park as raucous and passionate as ever seen.

In 2005 Pools were eight minutes from the Championship; on Saturday they were a minute from safety.

Pools led 2-1, Newport were drawing 1-1 with Notts County. Pools were staying up and how the crowd loved it.

Then Newport scored and the old lady was deflated. Victoria Park fell flat.

Devante Rodney was the most unlikely of heroes. He’s struggled since he was signed earlier in the season, with former boss Hignett not wanting him, feeling he wasn’t up to scratch.

He looked like he was right too.

But on Saturday the composure he showed in such pressurised situations indicated there may just be a sniff of a player in there.

First up he picked his spot in a busy penalty area to put Pools level.

Then the second was remarkable. Padraig Amond broke away on the right after taking up an advanced position when Pools were defending, something they weren’t allowed to do under Jones.

He picked out Rodney who skirted around the keeper and drilled home. Pure, uncontrollable elation.

Pools, without Nathan Thomas who infuriated the management and team-mates by declaring himself unfit on Friday, had done their bit, but they had to rely on Newport dropping points. When Pools went to Rodney Parade in January they were 11 points in front of the Exiles.

They surrendered meekly, losing 3-0, and under Jones, Pools were later overtaken, Newport pulling off an escape act every bit as good as Pools two years ago.