DUMPING Craig Hignett was, for Gary Coxall, an uneasy decision.

The Hartlepool United chairman axed the manager he had appointed 11 months previously amid a season of constant under-achievement.

Dave Jones was swiftly installed as boss and he will lead Pools into action for the first time on Saturday as they go to Newport, the team bottom of the Football League.

Keeping that gap between the sides was paramount in Coxall’s thoughts and he admitted: "The whole situation sits with me - and it doesn't sit well.

"I got on really well with Craig.

"I firmly believe that with the right support we would have got through it.

“There is some guilt there to be honest. I still think it could work.

"But if our season was to start Saturday are we in a position to survive. The way we were playing under Craig I'm not sure we were.

"That is why I had to make a decision which I said I wouldn't make.’’

Hignett replaced Ronnie Moore last February, and Coxall feels Jones will be around for a longer period of time.

"I didn't want to end it with Craig after just a year,’’ he reflected. "If you get a manager and sack him within a year you have messed up.

"If you get a manager in and he does three years then it goes wrong that is his fault.

"To get rid of Craig after just 11 months shows that I messed up - that is how I look at it.

"I will not shy away from criticism for that. I won’t make excuses.

"It was my decision to bring him in and mine to get rid of him.

"I know inside that I could have helped him more. That responsibility and guilt sits at my door.

"I still believe that with a bit of luck Craig would still be here now. But we didn't want to gamble any longer.

"The difference with Dave is that he has done it all before.

"My input will be minimal. My input with Craig was minimal but I did need to help him more."