DAVE Challinor has been giving his verdict on the North-East teams in the wake of the recent takeover of Newcastle United

This passed few years has been all change for Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hartlepool United.

For the Magpies, a new era was recently ushered in after the Saudi PIF takeover of the club was complete ending Mike Ashley's 14 year reign as owner. 

Boro are still battling to mount a promotion push from the Championship spearheaded by verteran Neil Warnock after a failed managerial stint for former player Jonathan Woodgate. 

Sunderland find themselves in League One after back-to-back promotions but after years of being starved of success, the Black Cats have won the Papa Johns Trophy and look set to mount a serious promotion push. 

As for Pools, their four year hiatus from the football league came to a dramtic end last June thanks to a penalty shootout win over Torquay United in a match and a season where Challinor and co defied the bookmakers to bring success back to the town. 

“People certainly from the local area would say it’s about time and you’d probably agree" Challinor said.

“I think it’s an area that’s been starved of genuine success for some time and I think the supporters of all the clubs, and I include Hartlepool in that up until a few years back, have all become a little bit glass half empty, a little bit pessimistic, a little bit ‘when never get any joy’.

“I think there’s been shoots of optimism throughout. Thankfully from our perspective we’ve been really good on that and have probably got our success before Sunderland who are a massive club and should never be in League One, who are now in position where they look like they going to compete and can get themselves back into the Championship.

“Middlesbrough’s a tough one because they are in a brutal division with some massive teams and massive budgets. You can get lost in that league.

“The stories that are breaking could completely change the horizon on what football up in this area looks like because the investment that could potentially come into them could to them, I’m sure with that being broken, you’ll see a complete different St James’ Park when they are there.

“I suppose similar to what we’ve spoken about here, them supporters will feel they have the opportunity of getting there club back and there club being able to potentially achieve what they’ve all hoped for for so long.

“That can only be positive on the whole area. From our perspective, if it helps us a little bit then that will be fantastic."

As things stand for Pools, they sit just outside the League Two play-offs with 17 points from their first 11 games of the season. 

Their home form at Victoria Park has brought some early season success with five wins out of six.

Next up for Challinor's men is a trip to promotion candidates Salford City this weekend.