CRAIG HARRISON insists his beleaguered Hartlepool United players have no excuses.

Pools today play their first game since losing at Eastleigh on January 27, when Woking visit Victoria Park.

And, against a backdrop of financial turmoil with the very existence of the club in serious doubt, the Pools’ boss says his players can’t worry about off-field troubles.

“It’s been a weird feeling not to play, and it’s normally so relentless but we have had two Saturdays of no football,’’ he said.

“Last weekend we had a good feeling about it and we were all disappointed the game was called off. What’s gone on off the pitch is old news now, we have to get back on with it. It’s amazing what one win can do and we have three games in a week now to target.’’

Pools go to Halifax on Tuesday – the last side Pools beat back on November 21 – and then Ebbsfleet visit in seven days’ time.

Without a win in 15 games, these next three games can go a long way to determining the football outcome for the last few months of the season.

“We want to play now, it’s been a good 10 days and the switch has been turned on again and it’s about getting used to what’s happening now,’’ said Harrison, who has only 12 fit and available senior outfield players today.

“At first the off-field issues were new, the lads maybe didn’t know how to cope with it.

“It was hearsay and wondering, but now we know where we are. Payday comes up again and it will be on everyone’s mind.

“They had a few days off, I decided with the mood in the camp and how it was after deadline day and a lot said, everyone was mentally tested and I felt a few days off would be good for them to get their heads around things.

“They were told ‘don’t come back here with the same outlook and feeling’. There’s 15 games left to win as many as we can.’’

Pools last home game was on January 21, when in front of a near-7,000 crowd, Wrexham coasted to victory.

The bumper gate that day helped pay staff and player wages, while over £85,000 was raised on-line to pay a tax bill and be used to pay running costs to keep the club ticking over.

And Harrison said: “The effect supporters have had and what they have done is amazing. I said in the past that when I first came here I know, as a North-East lad, this club isn’t as big as Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle, but it is a special club with special supporters and I don’t want to dramatise things, but they have saved the club.

“The crowd for the Wrexham game, the money raised on line and Rachel Cartwright and the fans can be proud of what they have done to keep this club going in the last few weeks and months.

“What’s going on off the field doesn’t disrupt my work with the football team and the players. It just adds to my workload. I would never allow it to interfere with my work, I do that on-field work first, and then look at the other things.

“I have to concentrate on the team and that is how it is prioritised.

“It’s my job as manager to keep everyone positive and I’m an optimistic person. I see things as a learning curve, a positive to take from things as a life experience.

“Everyone in the football world is lucky to work in it – it’s a fantastic sport and I’m happy to be working in football. There’s times when it catches you out, but I don’t let it affect me when possible.

“I have a good family and a very understanding wife who knows what it means financially too. She is very supportive and we moved here lock, stock to Durham when I came to the club.’’