IN THE face of adversity, Craig Harrison maintains a positive outlook.

With the club up for sale and seeking investment, Hartlepool United are on a run of one win in 11, which means they have dropped to a disappointing ten points short of the play-off zone.

Sitting in 15th spot in the National League, today they go to Dagenham, who Pools beat earlier in the season at Victoria Park.

With a raft of injuries to content with, Pools squad has been stretched, although skipper Carl Magnay should return this afternoon.

Harrison admitted belief within the camp has been affected by recent events.

The club is entering talks with interested parties who are keen to take control and there is genuine hope of a positive outcome now the process has started.

Six parties have been quick to register an interest in taking over, with another stepping forward in the last 48 hours, as well as an additional offer of help and support.

Harrison admitted: “Confidence has been affected by results, as human beings it’s got to happen. We are all people who want nice things and reassuring, scoring goals and getting pats on the back.

“Between coaching staff and management and senior players, it’s about damage limitation and seeing what we can do - making sure if it’s a problem then it’s only a small one.

“We have a lot going on right now on and off the pitch and we have lads who have been through it before.

“We use them as a bit of strength to see we have been there before and come through it, senior players guiding the younger players and we are only one win away from a big confidence boost.’’

Pools have slipped into the habit of conceding soft goals of late, but it is hoped the return to the side of centre-half Keith Watson will help eradicate those problems.

“It’s been very disappointing, but most mistakes are honest ones,’’ reflected Harrison. “No-one feels they are better than they are and they are willing to learn and get better.

“I’m a big believer in repetition and drilling it into players. Get your basics right – if you aren’t having a particularly bad day then win your tackles, win your headers and your man in opposition won’t enjoy it.

“We make sure we have a base and we all know our jobs. If confidence is low, if we are under pressure, then revert to those basics to see us through a tricky patch.

“There’s enough quality here to get it right, especially with a full squad. Senior players make a big difference, they manage games better. It’s about making sure we have a good combination of quality, experience and players who can dog it out.

“You need a mixture of characteristics and traits and at this moment in time it’s about getting that mix right.’’

Harrison is still without a number of first-team players today and a handful are big doubts. Nicky Featherstone, Luke George and Ryan Donaldson are all out, while Jake Cassidy, Nicky Deverdics, Michael Ledger and Rhys Oates are concerns after missing training at the back end of the week.

“A lack of continuity has not helped,’’ added Harrison. “When I look back I wonder when we have been able to pick our best team. It has been tough.

“But that's what you have a squad for and I think we have strength in depth.

“No disrespect to the others - some have come in and taken positions they have deserved through performances.

“It is part of football but we have had too many.

“We have more players training this week than we had last week, so to me that is a positive.’’

Of today’s opponents he said: “I think they are the best team we have played this season. At our place they were the best team we have played, although we won 1-0.

“They have got pace, can go direct, can play, they've got four or five very good strikers who are in form.

“It is going to be a tough game but they are not in great for either.

“We have done our homework. We are working on plans to beat them, both on the training pitch and with video analysis.

“You do try to take things from the win - we didn't play well, we were battered. There have been games where we have been better and not won.’’