Robbie Stelling takes a look at what must happen at Hartlepool United this summer on the latest episode of the Poolie Podcast.
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00:00Look, players will come and go. Managers as well will come and go.
00:03It may be that there comes a time when a club does want to make a change in the dugout.
00:07It may, of course, be that the teams lose managers who are successful.
00:12And that's one of the reasons I think where Pools struggled after Dave Challen had departed.
00:17You look at the appointments that followed in terms of Graham Lee, Paul Hartley, Keith Curl, John Askey.
00:24They were all incredibly different managers.
00:27If they'd had a clear philosophy, I think things might have been different.
00:31They might have been able to build on that success.
00:34And of course, it works in terms of recruitment as well.
00:38And when you do have a change in the dugout, it makes things a lot more settled for players.
00:42Look, there's always going to be an element of a new manager coming in and wanting to put his own stamp on things, wanting to make his own mark.
00:49But it must have been, even though a lot of the players have been reluctant to use it as an excuse,
00:53it must have been difficult, I think, for them to have to adapt to such different managers, both in terms of style and approach.
01:01One thing that stood out to me, actually, listening back to a couple of the interviews after the Forest Green match,
01:07I think it was David Ferguson and Joe Gray, they both said it really doesn't surprise them that they've had to play under three managers yet again.
01:14And that's not a good thing. I think there is generally a sense that this is a capable squad that have underperformed.
01:23Now, of course, there are loads of reasons for that.
01:25And the playing squad can't afford just to point the finger of blame to decisions made over their head.
01:30I think there have been some really disappointing performances.
01:33There have been some underwhelming signings who haven't managed to live up to expectation.
01:37But nonetheless, all the changes, the fact that it's been so unsettled, so turbulent, so tumultuous can't have helped.
01:45So I think if pools are able in the future to implement a clearer plan and a clearer vision and identity,
01:51then that is going to be significant for success in the short and long term.