DAVE JONES has often spoken of the legacy he has left wherever he has managed. When he moved on from Stockport, Southampton, Wolves, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday each club had a whole new era to ponder.

He’s certainly leaving a legacy of his own at Hartlepool United, one no other manager has been able to do.

Jones leaves with Pools on the brink of a whole new world, that of the National League. What a glorious legacy to mull over; the worst manager in the club’s 109-year history.

In the past, Pools have often looked as if they were going out of the Football League, but always staved off the threat.

Now, Pools’ only hope, after 13 points from a possible 51 and taking just two points from their last four games against the most out of form sides in League Two (Pools aside), after failing to muster a shot in a game they had to win, after looking down, downbeat and dejected in defeat, is that after sacking Jones they get an instant lift.

Matthew Bates and Billy Paynter are untried, but it can’t be as bad as it is; anything can only be an improvement.

The pair were back in the fold last week. Paynter calling a players’ meeting on Wednesday following the Orient debacle.

He’s been away from the club following his Achilles problem, but his character and personality lifted the camp last week.

Paynter spoke well and passionately after the game on Saturday, put up alongside Nicky Featherstone to speak to the press under instructions from Jones.

He said: “It was hard watching that.

“It’s been hard since the injury, no player likes to miss games, especially games like this.

“I woke up nervous, as if I was playing.

“I felt after the Leyton Orient game that we’d be guaranteed to get a reaction.

“Some players froze, which is disappointing, when you actually need men to stand up and fight for the shirt, fight for the cause.’’

He will demand that fight in the last two games. He will unite the dressing room.

Bereft of confidence, short of ideas, lacking in tactics and a game plan, Pools are so bad it’s untrue.

The players don’t know which way to turn. The first half of the season under Craig Hignett wasn’t clever, too much football for the sake of it. Pass, pass, pass, pass.

It may not have won them many games, but a game plan and a strategy it was. Under Jones, any ideals or plan the players operated under have  been thrown away.

Has it been coached out of them? It’s not a happy camp, the club has been torn apart in all areas. Jones was disliked by players and staff.

Barnet, one win in 12 before this, were made to look like Barcelona, such was their dominance.

Micky Nelson, the visiting skipper, hasn’t had an easier game of football since he played for Pools when they whacked Grimsby 8-1 at Victoria Park in 2004.

Pools were supposed to be playing 4-3-3. It was more 4-5-1, with wide attackers Nathan Thomas and Lewis Alessandra pegged back, pushed deep by the Bees’ marauding full-backs and nippy wingers.

It left Rhys Oates playing alone, trying to chase down long balls which were routine for Nelson and fellow centre half Charlie Clough, who was able to bring the ball out of defence at will. And when the top scorer was introduced, it was only with Oates moving wide. The look of bewilderment from Oates said it all. Quite what Jones was thinking we will never know.

It was a shambolic display, probably worse than that at Leyton Orient on Easter Monday.

Given the severity of the situation, it’s impossible to comprehend how inept and insipid Pools really were. Where was the fight, the spirit, the never say die?  They are misnomers this season.

Newport’s win over Accrington jumped them above Pools, a two-point advantage with two games to go. Pools take on Cheltenham on Saturday, then end their season against Doncaster.

Pools last four opponents have been there for the taking: Morecambe, winless in seven; Carlisle, one win and one draw in ten, Orient, winless in 10, Barnet, one win in 12.

Pools have taken two points from those games, losing twice. Things weren’t getting better, they were getting worse.

The crowd on Saturday was actually full of hope and belief. It was only when Pools conceded that they turned on the manager, players and chairman. Jones couldn’t be allowed to carry on after that.

Even in the first half, on the odd occasion the team broke forward and got into the opposition half, the Victoria Park faithful were lifted, willing their side on. They didn’t even see a shot.

Newport scored, Pools conceded within a minute and the atmosphere and outlook changed.

“You’re not fit to wear the shirt,’’ they sang. “Dave Jones, get out of our club”, and more. They got their wish last night.

Frustration to the fore. Jones was accused of not showing passion, not caring. He did care, you can’t dispute that, and he was frustrated at the lack of fight from his players who, to be honest, aren’t good enough.

But his record was pitiful. The percentage of points per game is up there with the worst statistics in the club’s history. He raked in only 27.1 per cent of points available, the worst of any manager in charge of more than ten games since John MacPhail’s 25 per cent in 1994.

The club was in pieces then; it’s gone full circle.

It was 65 minutes before Pools managed a shot of sorts on Saturday. Nathan Thomas bounced one into the keeper’s arms from distance.

A minute later John Akinde turned in the area and cracked in an angled drive. Game over.

The second came when Matthew Bates and Carl Magnay collided on halfway and the Bees broke away for a knock-in of a second.

Akinde was brought down for a penalty by Joe Fryer, who saved it easily. It was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

Jones said: “Why was there little impetus, little tackling? I haven’t told them that. We tell them to push on, to squeeze. Fear has a grip and it’s so difficult to shake it off.

“I want the players to show the fight and determination. You can’t carry anyone, one or two are trying to do it and the rest have got to follow.

“I want to see an angry dressing room and it’s as if they are accepting it, that’s not me, not my staff. I come here with my reputation on the line, and you see it, you get it in certain places.

“Everyone has to realise the situation we are in, I think they do, and what do we do about it?

He added: “We have not accepted relegation. I will fight whoever is put in front of me but I want people behind me too. Everyone in the dressing room should be hurting from this. Some couldn’t even get into a canter, why is that?’’