Hodcroft not afraid to make changes
KEN Hodcroft, the Hartlepool
United chairman, admits he is
not afraid to make the necessary
corrections' to ensure his
club get back to winning ways
next season.
After an unflattering campaign
at Victoria Park, Hodcroft
used Saturday's matchday programme
to express his frustration
at the nature of the season.
Pools toyed with the top end of
the table in the early stages, but
tailed off and were faced with a
relegation battle before winning
four games from six in March, a
run of results which has sealed
their League One status for another
year.
But the chairman admits he
expects more than just consolidation,
with this season the first
since 1998 to peter out with
nothing to play for.
And, in admitting admission
prices will not increase for the
club's Centenary campaign in
2008/9, Hodcroft, who is currently
in talks with the council
over the sale of Victoria Park on
behalf of Pools' owners Increased
Oil Recovery Ltd, said:
"The team has had mixed fortunes
and the season as a whole
can be summed up as just that.
"After gaining promotion last
season the players started this
season well but owing to a mixture
of injuries, the introduction
of new players (both on a permanent
basis and loans) and in
some cases poor performances in
certain key games, the club finds
itself consolidated' in League
One. This is better than relegation
but below the standards the
club has achieved in the past.
"To be frank, this is the least
exciting finish to a season since
IOR took over and after 10 years
of investment. The usual end of
season excitement (whether promotion,
play-offs or relegation
battles) has just not materialised
this football year.
"We have had many opportunities
since August to secure our
position at the top end of the
table in a league made up of
some fairly indifferent teams.
"Until recent weeks there
were very few teams able to
stake a position in the top 10.
However, we were not able to win
enough games away from home
throughout the season and a
number of the home games that
we could have taken three points
from, we failed to do so. The long
run of away defeats were a cause
for concern yet we scored more
goals at home than anyone in the
league.''
And he added: "The squad of
players we have are quite capable
of doing what was there for
the taking - but didn't. Games
against Leeds , Carlisle etc could
have been won, while games
against other teams were lost for
many other reasons.
"The lessons learnt from this
season will be evaluated and
hopefully, where possible, the
necessary corrections made.''
IOR have subsidised Pools to
the tune of in excess of £7.5m
since taking over in 1997.
9:40am Monday 28th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Paddy F, Hartlepool on 1:26pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Good to hear that the chairman feels as disappointed as we all do from this season and I think he maybe saying here that the manager and players must buck their ideas up. At least Mr Hodcroft is not saying he is pleased with this season and trying to put a positive spin on some of the poor results we have seen. Things have to change for next season
Good to hear that the chairman feels as disappointed as we all do from this season and I think he maybe saying here that the manager and players must buck their ideas up. At least Mr Hodcroft is not saying he is pleased with this season and trying to put a positive spin on some of the poor results we have seen. Things have to change for next season
Posted by: paul paxton, Walsall on 10:08am Tue 29 Apr 08
I hope Ken will get rid of Wilson and bring in a new manager and players for next season, It is our centenary and we need a big season to make the best of it.
I hope Ken will get rid of Wilson and bring in a new manager and players for next season, It is our centenary and we need a big season to make the best of it.
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