BRISTOL ROVERS and Cheltenham have managed to make an instant Football League return in two of the last three seasons. Tranmere, Torquay, Dagenham and York have all failed: the latter more than anyone.

For Hartlepool United, emulating the former is a big task in the nine months ahead, but it’s one which they must have a go at doing. The signs are that they are getting it right.

For years, decades even, Pools fought against the drop. They scrapped tooth and nail on too many occasions to remain a Football League team.

The manner in which those battles over the years were ultimately lost last season was criminal; and the guilty parties escaped. French spies in Hartlepool have historically suffered the ultimate fate for much less.

A chairman and owner, who was last seen sneaking into the town to clear out his rented house last month following two years of decline and failure, escaped.

A manager who was all too happy to talk about his own successes at Wolves and Cardiff has a big stain on his CV in taking Hartlepool United out of the Football League, thanks to a four-month stint in which he demoralised players and staff alike and racked up a record as bad as anyone ever secured in charge.

The pair of them have, thankfully, departed and never to be seen again.

Change is the watchword at Pools this season; and it can only be for the better.

Mistakes have been made and the sacking of club stalwart and physio Buster Gallagher has caused plenty of consternation. Chairman Pam Duxbury possesses a strong business head and has proved she’s not afraid of big decisions.

In place are a new owner, new chairman, new players, new manager, new badge, new kits, new kit manufacturer, new coaching staff, new backroom team. The only thing remaining is the name.

Like when Pools replaced the dour Mike Newell with the effervescent Neale Cooper in 2003, so Pools have appointed a positive and charismatic manager in Craig Harrison.

With a record in football as good as his, the one-time Middlesbrough defender deserves a chance to work at a bigger club, one with more resources.

Expectations at TNS in the League of Wales were huge. Draw a game and it was a crisis, such was their dominance.

In recent months at Pools a draw was a moral victory, such was the malaise around the place.

But this season, Pools will be expected to win games. They are among the division’s favourites and it’s a long time since that was the case.

Darrell Clarke’s Rovers and Gary Johnson’s Robins respected the National League and Pools, under Harrison will have to follow suit.

There’s players in the squad with a bit of arrogance and attitude, which isn’t a bad thing when part of a balanced squad.

Ryan Donaldson, Luke George and Jack Munns know the division and appreciate what it’s all about. Two of those three are capable of winning games on their own with the odd flash of inspiration.

Recruitment at Pools, as stated on a number of occasions by both players and staff alike, has been poor in recent years. Too many players have been the same; technically gifted without being able to respond when things weren’t going well.

Transfers have been more balanced this summer, with a stack of players arriving all bringing something different.

Life outside the National League will be different for everyone. They need to adapt to it quickly and do their upmost to ensure they are soon back on familiar Football League ground.