MIDDLESBROUGH boss Tony Pulis hopes to see Hartlepool United survive. 

Pulis, who last managed at Victoria Park in 2009 when Pools beat his Stoke City side in the FA Cup, remembers the troubled times his current club suffered in 1986.  Pools allowed Boro to play at Victoria Ground in 1986 when they were locked out of Ayresome Park when the club was placed in liquidation.

And Pulis, who signed striker Steve Fletcher for Bournemouth from Pools in 1992 for £50,000, said: “The North-East is a hotbed of professional football, and football in general if you look at all the non-league sides around this area. 

“It’s really disappointing to see them in this position, but I can remember back in the mid-80s at Bournemouth when I was playing under Harry Redknapp, we played against Middlesbrough when they were in a similar position. 

“Bruce Rioch was in charge and they had closed the ground and closed the gates and everything else. This football club has gone on and survived, thank God, and is in a smashing position at the moment. So fingers crossed.

"Hopefully, Hartlepool can get through it and then push on and improve from there.’’

A number of Boro fans have made donations on the online fundraising page set up to try and raise £200,000 to see Pools through the month and many are planning on being at Victoria Park a week on Saturday for Pools game with Wrexham.