GARY COXALL, the new Hartlepool United chairman, accepts that winning over the doubters is part of the job.

JPNG were confirmed as Pools new owners on Monday, after they took charge at Victoria Park from IOR.

But, after former chairman Ken Hodcroft blocked a proposed takeover in January, some seven weeks after it was announced as the real deal, Coxall admits that his new era must prove the cynics wrong.

While TMH failed, JPGN have already succeeded and completed the takeover, including all the relevant tests and checks with the Football League and Football Association. It was a stage TMH never got as far as.

In putting doubters at ease, Coxall said: "We have been tarred with the bad owners brush. As a fan I can see where they are coming from: someone who has come in on the back of a deal that failed and left a bad taste.

"Now new owners have come in and we have said similar things, the difference between us and TMH is we have done everything and proved it.

"We have the sign off from the FA and the Football League.

"We are not a company set up to buy this club, the group was already there –a strong group.

"I can see where they are coming from and it has made our job harder because it went wrong last time. This time it won't."

Coxall is in talks with manager Ronnie Moore and assistant Sam Collins over new contracts, has already entered discussions with council chiefs over the future ownership of Victoria Park.

Moore’s current deal finishes in December, but after keeping Pools in the Football League last season, is to be rewarded with a new deal.

The manager was appointed at the same time TMH were unveiled; one party had far more impact than the other.

Now Coxall and JPNG aim to build on what Moore has achieved.

"We have been looking at the club for about four months, when we really sat down and said this is the club we want to go for,’’ said the chairman. "It has been a long journey but the right one.

"We had to prove who we are, prove we had the financial means and the corporate structure to support a club.

"Rightly so because too many clubs change hands willy nilly.

"We are here for a long time, to move this club on. JPNG has a fantastic future and so does Hartlepool United.’’

He added: "Why couldn't we do it? We approached IOR and it was something they were perceptive to.

"We did all the due diligence - too much for me because I was impatient to get started and everything was positive.

"We saw a club that was underperforming.

"One thing they don't need to do is make any changes, just a few tweaks at corporate level.

"Football wise, everything is in place and the club went on an upturn because of Ronnie Moore and Sam Collins.

"There is a great feeling around the place.’’

Moore has signed six players this summer and striker Billy Paynter is next on his list.

The front man signed a two-year deal at Carlisle last summer, but fell out of favour with boss Keith Curle. He didn’t report for the first day of pre-season training yesterday with his future away from Brunton Park.

Paynter started out at Port Vale, where he played alongside Pools assistant boss Collins.

Midfielder Nicky Featherstone was yesterday rewarded for his efforts last season with a new contract at Victoria Park.

He played a key role towards the end of the campaign and, about to enter the option year on his contract, Moore moved to tie him down to a longer deal.

Signed by former boss Paul Murray, Featherstone, 26, made 25 appearances.