Seven games, one win. But Craig Harrison insists he has had nothing but enjoyment from managing Hartlepool United.

An underwhelming start to the National League season has damaged morale outside the club, but inside Harrison insists his outlook has been nothing but positive.

Following Monday’s win at Guiseley, Pools have a chance to right the wrongs of last Saturday when they take on Maidstone at Victoria Park this afternoon.

"I am enjoying every minute,’’ said the manager. “At an early age, I had professional football taken away from me.

"I'm enjoying this, every single minute.

"People talk about stress, but this is the job. Football is not stress, it's something I quite enjoy, all sides of being a manager.

"Anything that happens in football is not stressful."

Pools may be stuttering in the bottom four, but sit ten points off top spot.

It’s a gap they have to close down and they have a tricky run of games to come. With their first victory ticked off, Harrison’s outlook is confident.

Asked about the stated aim of promotion, he insisted: "Of course it is.

"Ten points? That's just a good week, wins on Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday while the teams above you perhaps don't have a good week and you are right back amongst it.

"We've only just reached the end of the first month.

"Look at Christmas and if you are in the top half and not a million miles away then you have the opportunity to kick on - that's still the aim.

"We are looking to get promoted, whether that is automatically or through the play-offs, we need to put ourselves into a position to give ourselves that opportunity."

Harrison is likely to give a debut this afternoon to Sunderland loan signing Michael Ledger. He has moved on a season-long loan after impressing during a temporary stint in Norway with Viking Stavanger.

"It adds to our numbers, gives us some strength in depth,’’ said Harrison. “He's had some good experience playing in Norway and learning his trade at Sunderland."

There’s no transfer window to worry about in the National League, so Harrison could add further signings at any time.

He’s now landed 11 since his summer appointment.

"If we can bring in someone extra to improve the quality then I'd try to do that,’’ he said.

"Padraig Amond leaving, that's (centre forward) an area we'd like to strengthen, but it has to be the right one at the right time, I'm not going to rush into anything.

"We are looking to strengthen along the forward line but strikers don't grow on trees.

"It's getting the right one, it's an on-going process, luckily we have no transfer window in the National League."

Of today’s opponents, who have former Pools winger Nicky Southall as assistant boss, he said: "Maidstone have started well and they've picked up two good results over the Bank Holiday weekend.

"They won 3-0 at Sutton and drew with Dagenham & Redbridge who were top at the time.

"It's a tough game. We've watched the a few times so we know what they are about.

"It's important that we take what we did on Monday into the game.

"We need to start where we left off, the way we played, the high tempo, getting into their faces, make sure we do all the dirty work, and then hopefully the quality will look after itself."