AS players we’ve got personal pride – you absolutely do not want to be part of a side that takes Hartlepool out of the Football League for the first time in its history: Carl Magnay.

For Magnay and his Hartlepool United teammates, today is a defining day. Pride, passion and all that goes with it.

Come 7.15 this evening, the club’s Football League status could be wiped out.

Come 7.15 this evening, the town could be celebrating safety like there’s no tomorrow.

Lose, however, and there is no tomorrow.

It’s been a mess of a season at the club. It’s been a disastrous few weeks and months.

With Pools stuttering, out went Craig Hignett, in game Dave Jones. The worst appointment in the club’s history, that by some distance. And there’s been some bad ones over the years too.

Jones went, chairman Gary Coxall followed this week.

Today is not the day for recriminations, the inquest can start tomorrow.

Magnay wasn’t even supposed to be part of it all. He suffered cruciate knee ligament injury in September and was ruled out until next season.

But he fought back, just like his teammates need to in their final game, and will take on Doncaster today.

After showing such determination to get back playing, he’s allowed to dream.

“I like to visualise stuff,’’ he mused. “When I’m at home I think about me scoring the winning goal and going daft, improbable as it seems.

“All the time. I listen to music that will get me up. I do visualise us winning the game.

“A last minute header from a corner? I was thinking of a 40-yard drive into the top corner!’’

Following Jones’ departure, Pools became under the temporary command of Matthew Bates, aided and abetted by Billy Paynter, Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher.

There’s been a lift in spirit, in atmosphere. Now they need a big jump in performance.

“With any new manager there’s always a change,’’ said Magnay. “We know Batesy and Billy really well. We can relate to them as people and that’s helped a lot.

“I thought Batesy got it spot on last week with his game-plan. It’s been a nice refreshing change. It maybe should have come sooner.

“We have to use the positive energy we’ve got from Batesy and Billy at the weekend.

“He’s taken on the role like a duck to water, he’s been superb. Whatever happens this season, if he’s in a position where he wants to go into management or coaching then I think the club should seriously consider him because he has really made a good impression. Tactically he was clever last week and I think all the lads pushed the ‘mate’ tag aside.

“A lot’s been said about the previous manager. As players you have to be accountable, but there were moments last month and the month before where I started to get concerned.

“We were eight or nine points clear and there was an attitude we were safe. We never addressed that.’’

Magnay wasn’t at the club two years ago when Ronnie Moore and Co pulled off the Great Escape. Today’s situation would eclipse that.

“It would mean everything,’’ he said. “We are aware as players of all the stuff out there. We know how disappointed our fans were at the last home game.

“We’re aware of the history of the club – we know it’s never been outside the Football League. As players we’ve got personal pride – you absolutely do not want to be part of a side that takes Hartlepool out of the Football League for the first time in its history.

“We’re aware of the good people who work at the club behind the scenes, or at least I hope the lads are. Jobs at risk, livelihoods. I hope that’s ingrained in everybody’s minds and our performance reflects that.

“It’s vitally important that we give 100 per cent. Saturday is an occasion where there isn’t an option.’’

Magnay is an engaging footballer to interview. He offers an opinion, has a say. Football, and Pools especially, lack individuals like that.

He cares about Hartlepool United, understands the passion of the faithful and what it means to the people.

But is there an understanding of how important the club is in the town within the camp?

“I’d probably say No, to be honest. I can’t speak for everyone but my opinion would be that (lack of understanding) comes from inexperience,’’ he admitted. “Younger boys, they’re concentrating on their path through. I think the older lads are a bit more savvy, knowing what it means to people behind the scenes and the importance of keeping good people at the club.

“Staying in the Football League allows that to happen.

“I would like whoever is in charge to re-enforce that through the season, during the middle of the season. You can end up at the back end of the season, and these things matter. It’s very important. I like to have good relationships with staff at the club and it would hurt me to see jobs cut if we did go out of the League.

“The lads might disagree and say that they do, but for me there’s not that realisation of what goes on and the hard work behind the scenes.’’

Magnay didn’t become a professional footballer the conventional way.

Gateshead-born, he was the winner of Soccer Icon, a Sky series where the best talent earned a contract at Chelsea.

His initial six month deal was extended to three years, a regular in Brendan Rogers’ reserve side.

Even then he knew what Hartlepool was all about.

“I thought Hartlepool was a very good, stable club that was doing great to be competing at that level, top end of League One,’’ said Magnay. “It had great years in the top half of League One and in terms of the size of the club and fanbase, that’s a great place to be.

“It’s unfortunate what’s gone on. Why, I don’t really know, but recruitment is a big thing. We have come up against a lot of sides who have dominated us physically. We’re quite young. It’s difficult to combat.

“Looking at the club from the outside I viewed it as a good club and when I was at Chelsea I always thought that Hartlepool would be a great option for me at some point in my career if I wanted to go back home.

“When I signed for the club I was delighted because it was always a place I wanted to come and play. I’m gutted that it’s got to this stage. It would mean the world to me to go out and get the win.’’