WHY does a business with no direct links or history with Hartlepool United want to buy a lower league football club?

It was a question asked when Increased Oil Recovery bought the controlling interest of the late Harold Hornsey in 1997.

And the same poser was put to new Pools chairman Gary Coxall after JPNG took charge at Victoria Park, replacing the outgoing IOR and Ken Hodcroft.

The former owners admitted Pools was a vehicle to help their business. Their oil empire stretched around the globe and dropping into negotiations that they owned a football club was not quite a deal-breaker, it certainly gave them some added kudos.

Coxall, who has already removed a trace of the former owners by restoring “The Town’s Club” as the slogan on the club’s badge, yesterday spoke publicly and confidently about his and JPNGs plans for the coming years.

They are not, he insisted, here for the short-term. It’s a long haul programme in place. And Pools can be used to help promote their business in a similar way to IOR.

Hartlepool United FC are now one of the companies under the JPNG umbrella.

IOR were all interlinked with DNO, Dove Energy and Larsen Oil and Gas and they all benefited from exposure with shirt sponsorship getting their name out there on a national and international stage.

Remember when H’Angus the Monkey was elected Mayor in 2002? The publicity and namechecks the club and shirt sponsors DNO received was worth more than any financial outlay.

There’s more, it seems, to football clubs than just playing football.

"To be perfectly honest, the club the position was in, we firmly believe the club was in a false position,’’ admitted Coxall, brought up in the shadow of West Ham’s Upton Park.

"For us, why wouldn't we want to be involved?

"There are various clubs that are looking for serious investment and we looked at a few but this one stood out like a sore thumb.

"Football is a passion of mine, I am a massive football fan.

"We have various projects on the recruitment side in Europe but a great catchment area for us has been in the North, North-East and Hartlepool.

"We were looking at sponsoring the club initially to push our brand up in and around the area but it didn't really come off.

"We looked at that and thought ‘could we own it instead?’

"We are here to invest money, we are good owners and have a group of companies.’’

Coxall and new Pools director Peter Goldberg have already met with council chiefs and hope to make progress on the future ownership of Victoria Park, after the proposed sale led to a breakdown in the relationship between the parties.

Council leader Christoper Akers-Belcher said of the initial gathering: “It was very positive and an excellent start to forging a healthy working relationship.

“The new owners have a very clear view of how they want to take the football club forward and they recognise the importance of embracing fans and the local community in achieving their goals.

“We have emphasised to the new owners that Hartlepool Council has always fully appreciated the benefits of having a successful Football League club and this is a view we still hold.

“This is a new era for Hartlepool United and we wish them every success both on and off the field.”

And Coxall, who has a number of new initiatives for supporters to be introduced in the near future, added: "The one thing that we are looking at doing asap is getting onside with the council.

"We have had various meetings, informal chats about our plans. We have been well received and they have been very positive about our plans.

"The one thing we have got a common goal is to protect the football club and protect it at Victoria Park.

"We will sit down with the council about making some sort of plans to purchase the ground, so the club owns the ground.

"To put a time limit on it would be churlish. But that is our intention and the council are receptive to that.

"We want to improve Hartlepool as well as the club. Firstly, improve the club but what comes with that we are looking at plans to improve the area around it.

"We want to improve the matchday experience, before and after games, transport and access.

"All sorts of things we are looking at, which will include the council.

"We have a huge common ground and on that basis we are very positive.

"What are our schemes? We are looking at everything.

"To do that we are going to need the council. We need to build some bridges."

So with the council on board and perhaps even the Mill House Masterplan regeneration and redevelopment scheme back on the agenda, Coxall and JPNG offering new contracts to boss Ronnie Moore and assistant Sam Collins and a rack of new players signed, the future is looking positive for Pools.

So, why would a company with no North-East links buy Hartlepool United?

"Why couldn't we do it?’ asked Coxall. “We approached IOR and it was something they were perceptive to.

"We did all the due diligence - too much for me! - because I was impatient to get started and everything was positive.

"We saw a club that was underperforming.

"One thing they don't need to do is make any changes, just a few tweaks at corporate level.

"Football wise, everything is in place and the club went on an upturn because of Ronnie Moore and Sam Collins.

"There is a great feeling around the place.’’