TWELVE months ago and Hartlepool United were steady away in League Two. And, while Pools were built on foundations far from solid, no-one could have predicted the utter carnage of this season.

In Colin Cooper and Craig Hignett they had a managerial duo of some promise. When the latter left for Middlesbrough, the former floundered.

Pools won only two more games after his March 3 departure, going from a team with outside play-off to one desperate to avoid the bottom two.

Cooper was allowed to shape the squad. It was an unmitigated disaster. He retained too many players who had already proved they weren’t up to the task.

In his favour, he didn’t have much leeway under the hand of Ken Hodcroft, who had tightened the budget. But Cooper still had a budget and he spent it terribly.

New season, new optimism? It lasted minutes. An opening day defeat was followed by a 6-2 mauling in the Capital One Cup at Port Vale.

And, for a manager who prided himself on defensive work, the cracks were all-too-apparent.

Back to back 2-0 home defeats exposed more limitations. Where was the attacking verve Pools were long crying out for?

Cooper walked. The hierarchy lost faith when he wanted Clinton Morrison – four goals in 64 games for Colchester.

In came Paul Murray, whose seven games represented the shortest tenure in Pools’ history. His signings were worse than Cooper’s and was axed after losing to Blyth. Was anyone surprised at the outcome that night?

Behind the scenes and takeover talks were on going. Hodcroft’s time was up. The club was in serious decline. In came new owners, they appointed a new manager.

Things looked positive, supporters were content again. But the same players remain and so do the same failings.

Unless Moore can replace this entire shambolic squad, Pools are plunging headlong in the Conference. He has a month to do his best.

 

Star of the year

Michael Duckworth is the only player with any sort of credit in 2014. He’s proved a real find and has looked the part as an attacking right back, although new boss Ronnie Moore wants to reign in his full-backs.

Flop of the year

Colin Cooper – appointed with high hopes and walked away leaving behind the worst squad in Pools’ history as his limitations in the transfer market, all too apparent throughout his tenure, came to the fore.

Goal of the year

Jack Barmby v Morecambe

As keeper Barry Roche saved Jack Compton’s shot, the loan signing from Manchester United showed remarkable poise and composure to sell a defender a dummy and slot the ball low under the keeper in high pressure circumstances

Moment of the year

Beating Morecambe to secure Football League status – one-down and a man down, Pools came back and the final whistle brought scenes of sheer jubilation.

STATS (all competitions): P50 W10 D9 L31 F45 A83 Win ratio 20%