FOR HARTLEPOOL UNITED the final day of the season was all about Three Little Birds as the supporters dressed up as Bob Marley.

But it was more three little words which epitomised the club’s finale and season in general: Never Say Die.

The unofficial slogan, emblazoned on the shirts is engrained in the club’s history.

Recorded as a single by the club’s squad of 1971, the motto symbolises the season as much as it did the last game.

Down and out, dead and buried before coming back against the odds to survive. For the last six months, read Saturday.

Boss Ronnie Moore, lauded by the 2,224 travelling fans and who joined in the fun wearing a rasta hat with dreadlocks, said: “It wasn’t a party it was a wake and then a party again – never say die attitude which is what we’ve had since I came here.’’

Pools didn’t arrive at Brunton Park until 2.30 – their team bus broke down on the A66 some 55 miles from Carlisle.

And they started as if they were still stranded. Some slack defending and poor marking gifted an average home side a three-goal lead.

Pools didn’t make any inroads on the home defence. Former Pools trainee Nathan Buddle was as untroubled at centre-half in the opening half as he was when he played for Blyth against Pools earlier in the season.

The way they didn’t perform in the opening half, it was just as well they achieved safety the previous week because the first 45 minutes was as bad as it gets.

With Scott Fenwick struggling with a knee injury, on came Marlon Harewood, who saved his best for last.

Out of contract, there’s no way the striker will be staying at Victoria Park. Decisions on players’ futures is decided over time and not on one half of football.

He bustled to the byline and crossed for Aaron Tshibola to shoot. Shot blocked it fell for Jordan Hugill to knock in.

Michael Duckworth surged ahead with intent, rolled the ball into Harewood, who laid it off perfectly for the right-back to cream home an unstoppable shot.

Harewood wasn’t finished there. He bullied Buddle. In the FA Cup encounter last December it was the other way round.

He linked up with Tshibola to cut through the home defence and the Reading loanee signed off a superb and rewarding spell with Pools by setting up Hugill for another goal.

Of Harewood’s future, Moore said: “Maz did well and it’s a good way to go out. Some players have crystal balls don’t they if they are announcing they’ve left when nothing is decided yet.

“But it’s common sense isn’t it? Since I’ve been here he’s not been an ounce of trouble, a model professional who has gone about his work without moaning and then he’s come on and enjoyed it.’’

Moore will be drastically altering the shape of the squad in the days and weeks ahead. Last summer’s decision making in keeping and signing players was poor, but Moore said: “I have a chat with the chairman Tuesday, players in Wednesday, talk to them and the list will be out after that.

“I’m not going to have a break at this moment, I want to get players in and make changes here and if I’m away then it’s hard to work on it. I’ll wait and see – we need seven or eight in and most of the lads we keep will be the young lads and we will use the money of the experienced lads to try and strengthen the squad with a bit of pace and endeavour.’’

Pools ended the campaign four points in front of the bottom two, on 45 points. It’s a low tally for survival, but no-one is complaining.

“At half-time we said a few home truths and they came out and we changed it and Maz’s strength against the inexperienced lads made the difference.

“Fenwick and Hugill gave it away for fun and that was causing problems for us. Scott’s knee is sore, so why risk anything and it worked with Maz bossing the front line.

“He’s not done it enough, he will say he’s not had the opportunities. He’s big and strong and that’s been his career. He used to have legs and be quick and he’s had a fantastic career and when we needed him, when we were losing because you don’t want the season to end on a big defeat, all people will remember the comeback.

“It’s been some week, let’s enjoy it and you can’t give any team a three-goal start and you could see first-half why we’ve been in so much trouble all season.

“The goals were a joke, they’ve not had to work for them at all, but at least we showed spirit and give them a pat on the back.’’