CRAIG HIGNETT feels Hartlepool United, thanks to chairman and owner Raj Singh, are coming through the dark times.

Former Darlington chief Singh took control at Pools at the end of last season as the club crumbled apart.

A financial mess left by the previous regime took the club to the brink of going out of business.

Singh took control, insisting he had a desire to right the wrongs of his time with Quakers.

Pools might only be mid-table in the National League at the moment, and onto their third manager of the season, but Hignett feels the club is finally on a firm footing to progress.

Since his appointment following the ill-fated short managerial spell of Richard Money, Hignett has improved Pools fortunes and outlook.

They have lost only once in six games under Hignett’s control and take on Dover at home today before back to back away trips to Fylde on Tuesday and Barnet next Saturday.

“Raj loves his football and he has backed everyone here 100 per cent,’’ said Hignett.

“He will carry on doing so, but he has to see progress and anyone who has put this sort of money into a football club would want that.

“But we have got rid of the mess behind the scenes and concentrate on building a club which will move forward.’’

Hignett returned to Pools under Singh as director of football, acting as a buffer between rookie manager Matthew Bates and the chairman, who has allowed Hignett to make three signings in the last week to go with the three temporary acquisitions Richard Money made in his short time in charge.

And now Hignett is in control of footballing matters, his old position won’t be filled such is the trust between chairman and manager.

He said: “I think we will just go as we are. I don't think there is any need for it now that I’m doing this role - it was just so I could protect his money, we do not need that now.

“We have coaches and staff who we all trust, Tommy Miller, Ged McNamee, Ross Turnbull, Tony Sweeney and the right people in the right places who we all trust.

“The chairman had problems when he was at Darlington with carve-ups and he won’t have it again. It does go on and me dealing with agents and contracts was peace of mind for him.

“Between myself, Mark Maguire and the chairman, who will get involved from time to time now, we have that role covered.’’

Pools signed David Edgar on Thursday, a week after Fraser Kerr moved to the club from troubled Gateshead. Both should be part of the back three today.

Edgar has been on trial at both Sunderland and Bradford before signing for Pools. He has 43 caps for Canada and hopes regular football will push him back into contention.

The players are enjoying playing under Hignett and his positive approach has brought some reward.

He wants his squad to play with freedom and said: “Without the players knowing it maybe they are doing things in training which is being put into games and we are allowing the players to enjoy themselves and you will play better when you are enjoying it.

“The focus is more on attacking and going forward, and we have a decent balance as well. Credit to the players who want to be part of it and have bought into it – the change around has been really pleasing from my point of view.

“All we can do is win as many games as we can and see where it takes us.

“You never know in this league, it’s tough, it’s brutal and we have three games in a week to come now with a lot of travelling.

“Let’s between now and the end of the season get as many points on the board and develop a style of play so we can take that into next season.

“We are looking at next season in terms of recruitment and the like. In terms of football we’ve not wrote this season off and we won’t allow that to happen.

“Anything off the pitch is with a view to next season.’’