Who could take over at Hartlepool
After the shock exit of manager Craig Harrison this past week I take a look at the bookies favourites to take over the job.
Matthew Bates
Last club managed: Hartlepool United caretaker 2017 and a current player.
Odds 6/1 (BetVictor) The current caretaker is someone who surely the Hartlepool board will be looking closely at for the job.
Bates has previous brief managerial experience.
After Dave Jones left the club at the back end of the last season and almost guided a Hartlepool to a miraculous escape but the clubs dramatic last day victory over Doncaster came in vain.
Bates is someone who has been at club for over season now and has amassed nearly 100 appearances Bates is seemingly the safest option to guide the National League strugglers to survival.
Neil Redfearn
Last club managed: current manager at Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Odds 6/1 (BetVictor) What looks like an unlikely appointment is former Rotherham and Leeds boss Neil Redfearn who took over as manager of Doncaster Ladies in late December 2017.
However, if Pools were to appoint Redfearn they would be appointing an experienced manager who has over 15 years’ experience as a manager.
However, one concern for Pools fans who may be looking into Redfearn’s managerial jobs they’ll see the longest he’s ever spent at a club was his time at Scarborough back in 2005-2006 where he spent 9 months in charge of the non-league side.
Russell Slade
Last club managed: Grimsby Town, April 2017- February 2018.
Odds 6/1 (BetVictor) Another manager who is being touted as a possible replacement for Harrison is experienced manager Russell Slade.
Despite being recently sacked from his role at Grimsby.
Slade has enjoyed success at varying levels. His most successful job to date was without a doubt at Leyton Orient.
During his third and final season at the club he guided them to a third-place league finish, and after being Peterborough United in the semi final he took on Steve Evans’ Rotherham United in the final and despite being 2-0 up at half time Slade saw his side lose on penalties.
However, Slade has built up a reputation for being an excellent man manager and could be the man to pull Hartlepool out of their recent slumber.
Lee Clark
Last club managed: Bury, February 2017- October 2017.
Odds 8/1 (BetVictor) Another option potentially on the cards is former Huddersfield and Birmingham manager Lee Clark.
The Geordie has been out of work since being sacked by League One strugglers Bury in October 2017.
Clark is most famous for his last day heroics at Birmingham when an injury time Paul Caddis goal saw them secure a 2-2 draw away to Bolton Wanderers and club the Midlander’s up on goal difference.
If Clark is given the job at Pools, fans can be safe in the knowledge that Clark has previous experience of a relegation battle, something that can prove crucial in Hartlepool’s battle for national league survival.
Credit to The Gazette, The Times, Sky Sports and The Birmingham Mail for the imagery used in this article.