HARTLEPOOL United interim manager Antony Sweeney admits the next permanent manager of the club will have a job on his hands this season. 

Pools are struggling for form at the moment in League Two having lost their last four games in a row, the latest being last night's 3-1 defeat away to Swindon Town. 

It was a result that sees them drop to 15th in the table. 

Sweeney took charge of his sixth game in charge of the club as we entered the fourth week since Dave Challinor's departure to Stockport County. 

While the club have been staging a number of interviews for the position, the clubs patient stance on appointing a new manager remains. 

Some recent performances have highlighted some glaring issues in the team that Sweeney admits the next man will have to attempt to come up with a solution.

He said: “Games are defined by big moments – we at this moment in time don’t win any of those big moments. We had counter-attacking opportunities.

“Whoever is next in this job will find it tough. Four defeats in a row, can’t do anything until January anyway.

“We as a club know the areas we need to improve, improving those areas is a different matter. It is plain for people to see what those areas are.

“But we have to find something within us to grind out results, especially away from home and come to places like this which are tough.

“We need to be more resolutely aggressive in defending our goal, if you are not you are going to suffer many more defeats.”

Next up for Pools in the league is a trip to Port Vale, who currently sit fifth in the table.