Craig Harrison, who was hounded by dejected supporters at the end of Hartlepool United’s latest defeat, insists no-one at Victoria Park can get excited at the prospect of a takeover.

Pools are up for sale after owners Sage Investments announced they were ending their funding and The Northern Echo revealed on Friday that a new owner should be in place this week.

Supporters have rallied around the club in the last two weeks, with over £70,000 now raised on a Just Giving page on line to help pay wages and bills which are due this week.

And Harrison said: “We hear of a possible takeover. Does it give us hope? That might be a bit dramatic. We need to do our jobs. It’s hard to say. We all know there’s a lot going on, lots of rumours, hearsay.

“We need to stay focused. We need to get something in the next two games to kickstart the season.’’

Pools to go Chester tomorrow, who sit below Pools in the National League table and who are equally out of form.

Harrison’s side has one win in 13, tomorrow’s opposition with Chester recording only five victories this season. They lost 3-1 at home to Gateshead on Saturday.

The manager said: “Confidence is low from top to bottom and football is a huge mental game. The same players went on a long unbeaten run, not giving goals away.

“The same players battered Macclesfield for 86 minutes at home and lost. That results took the wind out of our sails and we have suffered since then.

“It’s a mad division, we have had games when we could have lost 6-0 and won, games we should have won 6-0 and didn’t win. The team, 100 per cent, at the top makes the least mistakes.

“I’m sure going back that the teams conceding the least goals and making the least mistakes will win the game. We haven’t done that.’’

Mistakes proved Pools’ downfall on Saturday, as Wrexham won 2-0 at Victoria Park.

Visiting boss Dean Keates admitted: “We showed them no mercy – we spoke about that before the game. We had to be ruthless and some of our lads know their players and staff. They are in a bad situation it’s not nice, but we had to come here and do a job and win the game for Wrexham.

“They had a lot of ball first half and didn’t hurt us, they hit the bar and we had a bit of luck there. On another day it goes in, but other than that we have had one shot to save from 25 yards.’’

Harrison added: “We have to make pressure count. We got in some good areas, without the final ball being good enough. But sometimes games end up like that and you have to accept it, keep the back door shut and move on.

“Build from a solid base and a solid platform. At Dagenham we got back to 1-1, and got on top and then give away another terrible goal.

“It’s personal errors and decisions causing problems. I can’t remember when we had the last 20 minutes of a game to turn the screw to win a game. Now it’s about turning the screw to get something.

“We give them something to hang onto – Wrexham could see it out with their players.’’

Striker Scott Quigley scored two on his debut, a player who Harrison has previously managed and tried to sign this season from Blackpool.

He said: “I gave him his debut, I’ve managed him for five years and tried to sign him here on loan or permanent. I know his qualities and he’s took his goals well, but he’s had them handed on a plate.

“I know a lot about Wrexham, a solid team who won’t massively commit players forward. If they have to win in the last ten minutes they will. We spoke about it. About their strengths and weaknesses and all that goes with it. They wouldn’t press us high and would allow us possession, but it was about what we did with it.

“The ratio of final third entries to shots was too low.’’