Out of form and out of money. Christmas doesn’t appear to be a time of cheer for Hartlepool United.

Mid-table in the National League, the club was put up for sale yesterday and today they take on Maidenhead at Victoria Park.

While results and performances have dipped in recent weeks, the off-field problems have unravelled.

Players and staff were paid yesterday, amid a slice of uncertainly earlier in the week if the funds would arrive.

A winning team would mask over some of the problems, instead an out of form one exacerbates the troubles.

Pools started the season winless in six, then went 12 games without defeat and now it’s two wins in 11 and four defeats in a row. Their only win in eight came against a woeful Halifax side.

But facing up to difficulties isn’t alien to boss Craig Harrison. While he arrived at Pools in the summer following unprecedented success in Wales with TNS, it’s fair to say it was not always rosy.

"This kind of struggle is nothing new to me,’’ he admitted. "My first job in management at Airbus was taking a team who were win one week, lose the next. I know what life is like at the top, the bottom and mid-table.

"My playing career and as a manager I have experienced everything - promotion with Boro, losing a lot in the top-flight with them, struggles in the First Division with Palace, mid-table stuff with Airbus and then success with TNS.

"Nothing comes as a surprise in this game.’’

Pools have five games in 14 days starting today and they go to Gateshead on Boxing Day before the return fixture at Victoria Park on January 1.

The play-offs remain out of reach and the manager added: "What I will say is that I think we are six to eight points away from where we wanted to be.

"We need to improve - the players know that and the staff do to.

"All we can control is what goes on in training and on the pitch during the game.

"We need to be better at managing games, reproducing what we have on the training pitch. Maybe we need a bit of luck to go our way, too.’’

Players have been affected by off-field rumblings and they were told of the situation on Thursday morning at the club’s training ground by chairman Pam Duxbury and Paul Watson, the club’s head of recruitment.

But Harrison won’t listen to excuses or anyone claiming to be affected on the pitch by what is happening off it.

"In football you can't turn things on and off,’’ he claimed. "I have always said it is a mindset. It is ingrained in people. I have never been an excuse man. Whatever is going on you have to look at yourself first and foremost. Am I doing the best possible job I can? That's what I want the players to ask themselves, and the staff also.

"It's about creating that culture.’’

Harrison has been backed by chairman Pam Duxbury to turn the on-field fortunes around.

“I know Craig works really hard,’’ she said. "Results haven't gone our way and everybody on the football side is responsible for that.

"But I do believe that we will get it right. The support of the dressing room is there and I know the hours that Craig puts in along with Jenks and Batesy. They work very long hours to try and get it right, alongside the players, and I do believe they will get it right.

"Obviously now we've gone public about looking to sell the club and try and move on to the next level, it may be apparent that Craig has been slightly hamstrung with some changes he may have wanted to make.

"But we've got to work with the resources we have."

Pools have been struck by a virus this week, with the majority of the playing squad affected.

“I am never one to make excuses, especially when it comes to injuries, but this week it’s been tough,” said Harrison.?“We have had a bug which has hit the squad. That’s meant a few of the players have been unable to train.

“When you add that to the list of injuries we have had, it’s hardly been ideal.

“But we hope that one or two players will be OK to play. And I am also hopeful that one or two of the lads who have been injured will be closer to getting out on the pitch.”

Michael Ledger, who missed last week’s FA Trophy loss at Workington with a back problem, could feature. Lewis Hawkins is suspended.