RONNIE MOORE starts work as Hartlepool United manager today, vowing to lift his players and install some much-needed confidence.

Appointed yesterday, by Pools new owners TMH, a newly-formed company which stands for The Monkey Hangers, Moore takes charge after a break from the game from his Tranmere exit.

“It has been a mad few days but it’s all positive now for Hartlepool United and the fans,” said Moore.

“It’s a new start.

“There are new owners and a new manager and hopefully some good times for the club because there has been awful lot of bad ones.”

Moore, who last night watched Saturday’s opponents Oxford lose at Tranmere, took in Pools’ 4-0 thumping at Burton last weekend.

He was disappointed with their second-half display, accusing the players of folding like a “pack of cards”.

“To be honest I was sat there for the first 44 minutes thinking ‘why are they bottom of the league?’,” he said.

“In those 44 minutes there was nothing in the game, bottom of the league against second.

“But one stupid mistake and they scored off the post and then the team conceded straight after the break.

“At 2-0 they should have still be in the game, it shouldn’t be the end of the world.

“But I just felt it was like a pack of cards, there was no leadership.”

Moore will meet his players at Maiden Castle in Durham for the first time this afternoon. 

He plans an open and honest discussion with the squad, before a training match. 

“We’re in at 12 today,” he said. "You shouldn’t be getting Wednesdays off when you are bottom of the league, should you?
“It’s a day to work, work on the defence because when the team concedes, it looks like it could be three or four. We’ve got to get that right.
“We’ll be working morning and afternoon to get that right and then the rest will come [together].”

And he warned his new players were in for a tough time ahead: “You have got to be men and not friends. They are frightened of falling out, that’s what I think at this moment in time.
“They need someone to go in and have a right pop at them, which I’ll do today.
“When I’ve done that then we’ll get on with doing the right things.
“I can’t do nothing about what has gone on but I’m certainly going to be trying my hardest.
“What’s gone is gone but the lads can go and put it right on the park.”
Moore and his assistant Sam Collins will put the squad through a practice game this afternoon at Maiden Castle and then again tomorrow.
New chairman and owner Peter Harris confirmed the club is debt free after former chairman Ken Hodcroft walked away and wiped out the £14m owed to IOR Ltd.

He praised Hodcroft for the swift nature the sale and takeover was completed and added: “It’s been a whirlwind, a very busy two and a half weeks.

“We got it done quickly and I’ve got to say thanks to Ken for making it such an easy process. It’s a very professional outfit. The business is well run, very efficient and that’s what attracted me to the club in the first place.

“Other clubs have administration issues and they need restructuring. This doesn’t. Russ Green is a very efficient CEO and we can concentrate on the football.

“We know it’s a tough ask, but we have the right manager, one with all the experience. The team needed a strong manager. Some players need a kick up the backside, some a father figure and Ronnie can do that.’’