Hartlepool: A new chef, new training ground and improved form for Pools

Jones has overseen back-to-back home victories to give the fight for League Two survival a boost and he is looking for an end to away day blues when they head to Notts County today and then Cambridge on Tuesday.

He insists he has noticed a real lift in morale and team spirit during the last fortnight, which has coincided with a move to a different training facility. It is hoped appointing a chef to purely look after their needs down at Durham University’s The Racecourse can help too.

“Craig (the chef) is here and the food is superb,” said Jones, speaking after watching his players begin the day with poached and scrambled eggs before training.

“We give him a bit of stick but he only started this week, but we are building a bond with him already. He is a Sunderland fan which doesn’t help! He is part of the group, part of building the atmosphere and there will be more togetherness.

“Before we couldn’t go down for breakfast together sometimes because there was nowhere to sit at the University sports centre (at Maiden Castle), we were scattered everywhere. Here it is more private.”

The facility is still very much in the early stages of being transformed as Hartlepool’s base. As the players walk out of the dressing room and head out onto the training pitch, though, giant pictures of the players plus a splattering of blue and white is already there.

Jones has his office in place, with a white-board and magnetic tactics board too. Gaining independence, like he has had during his career with Wolves, Cardiff, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, is something he feels is important for a professional footballers.

“It helps,” he said. “It is what I am used to. I am not used to begin spread about like we were, like being kicked out of the changing room after training because the university has it at that time. We felt it was important to be all together. The atmosphere over the last few weeks has changed massively since we moved.

“Yesterday, talking to the chef, he went through 36 eggs because everyone went through breakfast and the lads are talking more.

“We show more games to the players, our training programmes are clearer. We can plan our day how we see it. It creates an atmosphere which is their own, a little bit of pride and a little bit of ‘this is our place’.

“The scholars and pros will all be based here. We are trying to find out how it all works. The changing rooms have all been done out. The dining room done out. The kitchen has.

“I would rather be in than have to wait because we were looking to move in during the close season so why not now?”

Since the move Hartlepool have claimed seven points from 12 to climb six clear of the relegation zone ahead of today’s trip to Notts County, knowing Kevin Nolan’s side sit a place below them.

Pools have not recorded an away win since October, a run stretching back 12 games and ten of those ended in defeat. Jones hopes his young team can end that slump.

He said: “How many years out of 100-plus has this club been successful? What has been happening has been happening for many years here. It is not best to glorify survival. That’s not in my mentality.

“It’s not in my thought process. I’m told we won two on the trot is a bit of a record this year! It’s not much of a record is it? It’s about introducing the steeliness we need to make sure it’s not acceptable to win two on the bounce. We need to win more than that.

“These are not young lads any more. I broke into the first team at 17. I got one game grace. I was then told I am not 17 anymore I am a first team player. They then looked at me as a first team player, that’s the mentality I want here.

“They will still make mistakes but you can’t rely on experience all of the time. Everyone has to step up to the plate. By the end of the month this place should be running like clockwork. Then I can look at other things, get on the training ground. It’s about changing the thought process here.”