Collins not afraid to make the big calls

The caretaker boss won’t tolerate slackers in his squad and he won’t be afraid to make big calls.

He’s had little under two weeks in charge and has brought some improvement and changes to the Pools ranks.

Following last weekend’s win at Exeter – only their third of the season – Pools take on Luton at Victoria Park this afternoon.

Collins has given goalkeeper Scott Flinders the captaincy, moved former skipper Matthew Bates into midfield, changed the team’s formation and introduced some of the club’s younger players to the side.

The caretaker boss will be assisted by temporary coach Brian Honour this afternoon for his third game in charge.

“I feel like I’ve been doing the job for a long time,’’ he reflected. “My phone has never stopped and there’s so much to deal with – making sure things and the lads are looked after.

“There’s a lot to get through, but I’ve enjoyed it all, every minute of it.

“I’ve made changes to the way we do things. I want to freshen us up and get more energy in the team. I’ve worked with these young lads for a long time and know what they are all about.

“I trust them and know their capabilities. They are our own lads, through the system at Hartlepool and I knew they could handle the situation.’’

Of the captaincy, he said: “I want Batesy to concentrate on playing. I feel Scott Flinders has grown as a person as well as a player. I felt he could handle responsibility, even though I wasn’t manager at that point and I always felt he was the type of character who could do this.

“I told him straight away that as long as I am doing this for that’s what I want him to do. I told Batesy the same, so I’m not just doing it last second before the game. They all knew what to expect.

“I’ve always been an honest player and I will be an honest manager. If they don’t like it then there’s nothing I can do about that.

“The most important thing is Hartlepool United winning football matches. However I go about it in the next few weeks I’m not scared of upsetting people and telling them what I think and that’s exactly what I’ve done.

“It’s not difficult to do that. The most important thing is for Hartlepool United to win football matches and to start climbing the table, so whichever way I do that I’ll do it. It’s in the best interests of the football club – players, staff, fans – and I’m in charge at this moment in time so I’ll do it my way.’’

Victoria Park was not a happy place last time there was a League Two game. Pools were rolled over by Carlisle and Cooper quit as the crowd called for his head.

But Collins, who has been at Pools since moving from Hull for £75,000 in 2008, admitted: “The fans have been patient with us and I can tell them that however long I am doing this for I will give it everything I have possibly got, everything inside me to make us win football matches.

“Whoever goes out and plays will give everything they have got – if they don’t then they won’t be playing it’s as simple as that.

“I’ve been here a long time and I know the crowd will accept someone making a mistake, what they won’t accept is someone not trying. To play in my team you have to be flat out, giving everything you have got.

“In League Two, you put players under pressure and they make mistakes. That’s the message. We have players who can go and hurt the opposition.’’

Collins is certainly excited by the task of leading Pools, however long he is doing it for – be it temporary or if he appointed longer-term by the club’s hierarchy.

He said: “I can’t wait to get the game again – I enjoyed last week and we finished off with a great result. The message is same again, they know what I expect and we will give them as much information as we can on Luton.

“We already did some work on that on Tuesday, same today and Friday to make sure we are well organised and set up to go and win the game.

“Exeter had won four in a row last week, Luton are in form now. We give the players as much information as we can about Luton, but it’s all about us and if we can play like we did last week we can go and win this one.

“Training has been bright and good, the lads look like they have their confidence back and look ready to play already. Now we need to get the balance right to save it for Saturday because as soon as the game starts I want them bang at it.’’