THE proposed takeover of Hartlepool United is in serious doubt and is unlikely to go ahead.

It was announced in December that TMH 2014 – a new company (The Monkey Hangers 2014) formed specifically to run the club under the stewardship of Peter Harris – were the new owners, with IOR Ltd standing down.

However, seven weeks down the line the deal has not been completed and chairman Ken Hodcroft remains in charge.

Hodcroft, who took over Pools in September 1997, has been in control throughout the planned takeover, a process which could not be concluded successfully until the TMH2014 had met certain criteria with the Football League and the Football Association and completed terms with outgoing owners IOR.

He was welcome to attend home games when the deal was taking shape, during what was supposed to be a handover period.

Prospective chairman Harris, and the club’s chief executive Russ Green –appointed a director of TMH 2014 in December – visited the Football League last month as part of the approval process.

The Football League and FA are unable to comment on events and the current state of affairs. There is, however, no set timescale on how long the process for a takeover can take.

In the aftermath of their unveiling at Victoria Park on December 16, Harris and a number of his associates were regulars around the club and they took in the game at Wycombe on January 3.

In recent weeks, they have been distant and club staff have been answering to Hodcroft. The proposed better communication between the club and supporters - with Harris saying he was keen to get a fans' representative involved in board meetings - has not materialised.

Harris watched Pools lose 3-0 at Shrewsbury, but tellingly only Green was in the directors’ box at Tranmere for the game on January 24.

Neither Harris or Hodcroft attended the weekend win over Plymouth at Victoria Park. Harris, however, was listed in the match programme as chairman and also has that title on the official club website.

At December’s press conference, Harris, 44, said that IOR had written off £14m of debt and the club was on a solid financial footing, which made the proposition an attractive one.

The planned takeover was instigated by the club’s chief executive Russ Green. Where the club goes from here if the takeover doesn’t go ahead is extremely uncertain because investment from IOR in recent years has been on the decline.

Speaking in mid-December, Green said: “IOR have been here 17 years and they’ve invested heavily in the club for those 17 years. But the oil industry is not what it was, and, it sounds silly, but we’re affected by that. Oil prices have dropped big-style.

“IOR have been brilliant and saved the club, but after 17 years we’ve come to a crossroads. That’s a long time to be at the club. We knew this new investment would give us impetus at a vital stage of the season.’’

Bottom of the Football League and seven points short of safety, Pools have improved on the pitch in recent weeks. Boss Ronnie Moore – appointed by Harris and TMH – was yesterday named on the shortlist to be named League Two manager of the month for January and he has been able to operate in the transfer market.

Meanwhile, the position of goalkeeper coach Stephen Pears is under review and it is understood he has left the club. He was appointed as assistant manager under then boss Colin Cooper in the summer.

Pools goalkeepers Scott Flinders and Jonathan Maxted went through their pre-match routines alone last weekend.