IN leaving Hartlepool United, Russ Green is of the belief he is walking away from a club on the up.

The club’s long-serving chief executive, in a move revealed by The Northern Echo, resigned his post on Friday.

"I feel it's an exciting time for Hartlepool United, I think the club can push on,’’ he said. "I don't see why we can't be in the Championship.

"You look at Scunthorpe, Yeovil and Colchester have all been to the Championship and with these owners I think Pools can do it.

"The owners have backed us, whatever they've said they'll do, they've been a massive positive for the club and I feel Pools are in safe hands.’’

Green brokered the deal last summer as the club was sold by IOR and taken over by new chairman Gary Coxall and JPNG.

After arriving as commercial manager in 2002, he was appointed chief executive three years later and was at the helm during some memorable campaigns.

Now, he admitted: "I think it is the time for me to walk away.

"It's been very emotional, I've shed a few tears since Friday and the calls I've been getting have been unbelievable.

"But I think there comes a time in life when it's time to go.

"I could have walked in the bad times but I saw it through because I did not want to leave the club in a mess.’’

There was no bigger mess than in December 2014. Pools were cut adrift at the foot of the Football League and chairman Ken Hodcroft was looking to sell up.

But the deal with a group of prospective owners failed to go ahead, leaving Green and Hodcroft in control.

The appointment of Ronnie Moore as boss galvanised the squad, while Coxall and JPGN were going through their own purchase.

Green, in an interview with BBC Tees, admitted: "It's something I've been pondering for a while and I made the decision last Friday. The last few years have taken their toll, we've been through the mill, haven't we?

"We've had some good times but some bad times, we've been on the verge of relegation twice.

"That was quite traumatic, but we saved the club and we also got Ronnie in.

"I brought Ronnie in knowing he was the right guy and he proved me right, thank God. He performed a miracle.

"Last season things got tough and that's when we made a change and brought Craig in.

"I recommended him for the job and he hasn't let me down, he's done a great job.’’

Coxall paid tribute to Green in a club statement and the departed chief executive said: "It's a brilliant club, the best in my eyes, we've had some massive times.

"I have to pinch myself about Cardiff, we were just minutes away from the Championship.

"In typical Pools fashion, we were relegated the year after but we bounced back under Danny Wilson.

"It was phenomenal, records were being broken everywhere by a great squad.

"The Great Escape was better than winning the World Cup for me.

"Every single person had written us off. Ronnie came in and lifted the place and everyone started to believe, belief got us through and it's an experience I'll never forget.’’

He concluded: "We saved the club and when the new owners came in we had to make sure they were here for the right reasons.

"They've proved that all the way along, they are great for the club.’’