IT’S hard to comprehend how bad Hartlepool United were on Saturday; and the biggest disappointment of all is that their ineptitude didn’t surprise anyone.

Pools were a first-half shambles as Ebbsfleet created 14 chances in 45 minutes. Somehow they only scored one.

It was still enough for victory. Pools hardly looked like scoring themselves, a couple of half efforts aside.

The club is in as bad a state on the field as it is off. Where the misery ends, no-one knows.

New lows are being set week after week.

And, for all their woes this season, the nature of the opening half was staggeringly bad.

To a certain extent you had to feel for Matthew Bates. Thrown in charge after Craig Harrison’s sacking in midweek, he was left alone in the dug out.

Assistant manager Paul Jenkins has been absent on ‘personal leave’ and the way Bates spoke after this defeat the impression was he won’t be back soon.

The pre-match warm-up was carried out by kit-man Nathan Porritt and a couple of fitness coaches, as Bates did some work with the back four.

Goalkeeping coach Bernard Hirmer wasn’t there as the two goalkeepers tested themselves before the game.

Bates tried on Friday to get some help, but to no avail. Ronnie Moore has offered to help, but he's not been spoken to by anyone at the club.

“Going forward we need to sort something out,’’ he reflected. “People at the club have been offered the opportunity to step up and haven't, I have to say that. They have their own reasons. I don’t know the reasons.

“When the club is in need you need to step up. There are people here who have been here a lot longer than me who need to step up and haven’t which is disappointing.

“I am a bit angry about it and frustrated, but it is what it is.’’

He added: “I am big and brave enough to take it though, and I have a lot of friends in football who will come in next week and do us a favour. That's what it will have to be as we have no money.

“Fingers crossed. I have spoken to a few people.

“I am meeting a few for a coffee on Monday and we will know more after that. Hopefully by Thursday it will be sorted.’’

Pools go to promotion-chasing Aldershot at the weekend. They will travel on the day of the game, there’s no more overnight stops permitted.

You could argue they don’t deserve them anyway.

Pools could have been four down after 20 minutes, a mixture of bad finishing and some Scott Loach saves keeping the score down.

Routine balls played in and behind the centre-half pairing of Louis Laing and Scott Harrison were latched onto time and time again.

The duo were desperately bad and it’s hard to recall a partnership as bad as they were. Asking them to do the basics was asking too much.

And, when they came up against the rotund and powerful frame of visiting striker Danny Kedwell they were second best every time.

Bates said: “The message to the players at half-time was that it wasn't good enough. Individuals have to do better. They did in the second half.

“I think the players believe they can get out of this. I know they can. We had the conversations last week and they told me so.

“The lads have to be better at the back. I just think it is the players know they have to be better. I have told them that.

“The back four, and the whole team as a unit, have to be stronger, the strongest and most consistent part of the team. We were not good enough.

“The defence did not give the lads further up the park the platform to win the game.’’

They did, however, give the opposition the platform to win it.

Pools were a bit better in the second-half, but still not good enough to win it.

The only goal came when Luke Coulson crossed from the left side and the ball sailed into the area where Dean Rance was free to head in.

Elementary mistakes were the norm and the goal was no exception.

Pools had a brief spurt in the opening half, but Jake Cassidy missed his shot and Michael Woods blasted over.

In the second half, visiting keeper Nathan Ashmore scrambled the ball away from Michael Woods in the area and didn’t have a great deal to do.

Up for sale, without a manager, with absent backroom staff and the worst team in the club’s history representing the club on the pitch.

There’s been bleak times at Pools over the last century; none as bad as this.