YOU would have to go some way to find a more tumultuous 12 months than those experienced at Hartlepool United.

A club in freefall, out of money, with an owner who lost interest as his cash disappeared, a struggling and errant chairwoman who took over from morally bankrupt owners, a team dropping like a stone.

And that was only in January.

Since then, things balanced out and the club, in grave danger of going out of existence, is now on a far more stable footing.

They are also onto their third manager of 2018, even by Pools standards of late that is some going.

After the mooted takeover by Chris Musgrave collapsed as the last minute as a planned and proposed deal between the businessman and the council stalled, Pools were in limbo.

Jeff Stelling came to the fore, convincing Raj Singh that now was the time to try and right the wrongs of his time at Darlington.

The pair took over, Singh the senior partner, and chairman in the club. They are still willing to listen to potential investors.

Matthew Bates took over, somewhat reluctantly, at first from Craig Harrison. Bates grew into the role, securing safety as Pools dug out enough results to keep out of the bottom four. He deserved the chance to take over permanently.

And it looked promising, as Pools lost only one of their first 16 games before it unravelled. With Richard Money now in place, he deserves respect and the chance and time to turn around the squad and find the right balance on the pitch.

Pools have opted for someone who knows the division and understand what it takes to be successful in it. He’s been there and done it.


HIT OF THE YEAR

Jeff Stelling and Raj Singh. If it wasn’t for the pair coming together and pumping money into the club, putting a board and structure in place, then it’s highly likely it would not be here today.


FLOP OF THE YEAR

Far too many to mention. Players fell short, managers fell short, owners left the club in limbo. Some players were as bad as have ever been seen at the club: Louis Laing probably shades it.


GOAL OF THE YEAR

Carl Magnay’s 40-yard strike into the top corner at Barrow in March was far too good for this standard of football.


MOMENT OF THE YEAR

The town rallying round for the home game with Wrexham in February showed the passion and enthusiasm for the club in its hour of need. That the team fell short that day summed things up.


2018 record (all competitions)

P51 W15 D17 L19 F65 A 67