RICHARD MONEY had, almost two weeks ago, pleaded for patience at Hartlepool United. He got it from the crowd; now he fears it may not be the case from above.

Eight games into his tenure and, as he openly admits, there’s been no lift, the sort often associated with a new manager. Pools have lost half of his games.

After the latest embarrassment, losing at Harrogate when they were outplayed by a vibrant home side who were gifted goals, he spoke openly, and on more than one occasion, about the concerns and consequences of failing to improve the ever-failing fortunes of Hartlepool United Football Club.

"I'm well aware that any manager can't keep asking for time and patience,’’ he pondered. "I'm well aware we need to win a football match very quickly, otherwise there might be someone else stood in this position pretty quickly.

"None of us are stupid all right?’’

Pools take on Braintree, the bottom placed team at home on Saturday.

"I'm well aware we need a win, I need a win,’’ he admitted.

"I genuinely think that will be the case [that he will be given time] but the supporters will demand something pretty quick. I understand that.’’

His comments dropped as the familiar new year failings are coming to the fore. Two years ago to the week, Pools appointed Dave Jones and went into freefall. His shadow will always haunt the club.

Twelve months ago and Craig Harrison was sacked after starting 2018 with one win in seven as the club crumbled. February 2016? Ronnie Moore was sacked.

Money took over in December. He has been in charge for 42 days. Paul Murray lasted 72 hours longer as Pools boss. Money was only in charge of Solihull Moors last season for 26 days.

But what good would changing the manager again at Pools do. Then what? Change again in another month if it’s not working out?

No manager can comprehend the sort of errors that the players made on Saturday; individually mortifying, collectively embarrassing. There’s clearly a lack of confidence and belief within the squad.

Carl Magnay had a first-half stinker, the captain struggled from the off and was replaced at half-time.

Pools were only own-down and still in the game thanks to an impressive low penalty save by Scott Loach.

The opening goal was a defensive calamity, as Pools and Magnay failed to clear and Lloyd Kerry finished.

After Loach’s save, despite their struggles, Pools had two decent first-half openings

New boys Nicke Kabamba and Luke Molyneux linked up well with the latter crossing for the striker to head at goal and his effort was well saved.

Then from a Molyneux free-kick, Michael Raynes header over from an inviting position.

Pools were soon two goals down four minutes after the restart.

Money had a week previous spoke his bewilderment of the nature of players who want to pass the ball backwards.

Nicky Featherstone opted to turn and pass backwards into space, gifting possession to George Thompson who attacked the space the midfielder should have been protecting.

Featherstone, to his credit, tracked back and won the ball. But then he tried to turn in the penalty area, losing possession as cheaply as he squandered 40 yards upfield.

Jack Muldoon was teed up to fire in from the edge of the area.

Featherstone was soon substituted, Raynes handed the captain’s armband some 58 minutes into his Pools tenure. Welcome to the mad world of Hartlepool.

Goal three was another of Pools’ own doing. Kenton Richardson headed the ball straight back into the middle for the opposition. The ball was switched to his flank and the full-back, confidence low, was beaten too easily.

The cross was met by Mark Beck, the towering former Darlington striker, who neatly connected to head home.

Put in simple terms, Money laid it out: "We have an experienced centre-back who makes the mistake for the first goal, an experienced central midfielder who makes the mistake for the second goal, when we get back in it we have a young right-back who can't stop the cross and a centre-back who can't win the header.

"If you look and analyse most goals, someone has made a mistake somewhere - we're making too many, for sure.

"It's a bit of a task for someone of my experience. Is it three in defence? Is it four? Is it five? Is it one in front?

"Whatever we do at the moment, we don't seem to be able to stop conceding goals.

"But I do think I we need to get some consistency within the group and some consistency in how we play. I'd be reluctant to play with five at the back but we might have to.’’

Money gave his three loan signings instant debuts. Their arrivals gave everyone a pre-game lift, but they had limited time in training with their new team-mates and it showed.

"After last week's defeat to Telford we have made the decision to bring in three players I think will strengthen the club, short-term and longer term for the rest of the season,’’ he added.

"We haven't just brought them in for today, we've brought them in for the last third of the season.

"But they asked through the door at 9am on Friday morning, we've played 12.35 on Saturday, so I'd just ask everyone, yourself included, what could you do with them in that short period of time to make them gel.

"We need a bit of time with the group of players but I am well aware that I might not get it.’’