Poolie Podcast: New Mail reporter Robbie Stelling chats all things Pools including transfer business and new manager priorities
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00:00You
00:30You
00:34Hello and welcome to a
00:36New look Hartlepool United podcast from Hartlepool mail pull your podcast with Robbie sterling our new Hartlepool United writer
00:44Welcome Robbie. You've been in the role a few months now, but your first podcast of the mail. So welcome
00:49Thanks, rich. It's a it's great to be here. Yeah, you might say I've only been here a few months, but
00:55We've had plenty
00:57Plenty to keep me busy. Obviously managed managerial changes, you know lots of
01:02Topsy-turvy times on and off the pitch. I think that my third game was the
01:077-1 defeat
01:09Gateshead so it was a bit of a baptism of fire, but it's been great
01:13best best way and you'll
01:16away with the polls and
01:18Yeah, we've been
01:19Yeah, a new summer new new start new season new pools writer as well
01:24So we've just relaunched the the new pools pod for the year for the heartful mail
01:27So we'll be bringing you regular updates from the Sudiric Stadium by Robbie in our in our podcast
01:33which will be in all good podcast places and
01:36Plenty to talk about then Robbie after although no transfer business as such still been a very busy summer
01:41On and off the pitch obviously with Kevin Phillips's exit in the arrival of the new boss
01:46So we'll get to all that shortly, but just just quickly should we start with a new kit because that was launched last night and
01:52Seems to be going down pretty well with fans
01:55Pretty smart home and smart away kit as well with a little nod to the past in both both kits
02:00What's your what's your take on the kit?
02:03Yeah, very nice. I think they nailed it to be honest Rich
02:07And I think from the club's point of view. It's a it's a welcome boost. I think probably there was a little bit of negative
02:13Feeling around given a sort of disappointing season and whatnot and and a slow start to the summer
02:19We'll obviously talk about that in more detail
02:21Later, and of course song has already said there's no need to there's no need to panic
02:25But the kits I thought they were both really nice
02:28It was refreshing really to see that the club had obviously listened to
02:32The fans in terms of the badge that's going to be embroidered. I think a lot of people that had the kit last year
02:38I think they lost battles with their washing machine pretty quickly
02:41I don't think many of them
02:43Lasted too long and as well. They've got it out nice and early
02:46I mean that's gonna help from the club's point of view presumably that will benefit sales
02:50Last year was a little bit more chaotic wasn't it?
02:53And I mean you can only look so much into
02:55What what does a release of a kit say about the state of a car?
02:58but but last season last summer was probably indicative of a
03:03Slightly sort of you know haphazard approach, so it was a good start
03:08I think both kits are really nice like you say a little bit of a nod to a
03:12Couple of popular classics and that never goes amiss with the with the home kit. I really like the the color
03:19I really like the badge and the awake it which I think is
03:23Has been the sort of real headline grabber if you like it really nice
03:27the detailing is is obviously a class above they've done really well there with the map of the town and of course the nod to the
03:35Iconics ship ships will so I think pools are going to be playing in style next season the question is whether they're going to be
03:41playing with style
03:42Let's see
03:43But definitely a good start as far as the kits are concerned and like you said
03:47The fan base in general has seemed to you know pretty much almost universal acclaim, which is no easy thing to do so yeah
03:54Absolutely big big thumbs up
03:56Yeah, it's gonna be often unusual for it to go down quite so well with fans
04:00So we'll wait and see which new signings we wear in the kit come at the start of season August
04:05But um if we just sort of start with the manager situation
04:07then just to go back a little a little while a few weeks seems like a lifetime ago, but um
04:12Kevin Phillips is departure from the club and then on the same day obviously the the arrival and announcement of Darren Sahl
04:19You've obviously met met Darren when he did his press conference a couple of weeks back ahead of the kind of summer break
04:25What was your kind of first
04:27Impressions of him and what do you think he'll bring to pools and kind of the style of play and what what do you think?
04:33Those funds can expect more more broadly this season
04:36Well, I mean I have to say I know it was a little bit of a surprise obviously that that Phillips
04:40Left when he did and the circumstances of course that he left as well
04:45I think you know everyone's got an opinion on on that, but you have to sort of take some out of that picture
04:51You know
04:52It's nothing really to do with him
04:53And he might actually start cycling on the back foot through no fault really of his own
04:57But like you say I met him at the at the first press conference, and he was great
05:02He made a really really positive impression. I mean he was
05:04Friendly down to earth and really generous with his time. You know I mean we probably spoke to him for an
05:10Hour and a half there were thereabouts
05:13And and that was great obviously he's a he's a extremely busy man
05:17You know none more so than than now in the next few months, and he said himself
05:22It had been a very intense few days because it all happened pretty suddenly
05:26I think perhaps I was was the man that pools wanted have wanted for some time
05:32I think he was the bookies favorite in in January
05:35I think at one point they even suspended the betting that he was going to be there the new man in for one reason or
05:40Another it didn't happen then, but they've got their man
05:43Now he's he's got a big job on his hands as so many pools managers have they've had plenty of managers in the last
05:50Five or six years haven't they but I think he's definitely got a lot of the attributes
05:54To do well, I mean first and foremost. He's got good experience at this level
05:59I'm walking in his first season in charge
06:02He took them to the to the playoffs and I think most pools fans would snap your hand off for that
06:07Again, so he knows what it takes
06:08He knows what it takes to sort of curates and leader a successful team. I think his his style
06:15The man that he is I think will appeal to pools fans, you know, that's sort of unique football culture in the Northeast
06:22He's clearly well aware of that. His wife is from is from Newcastle
06:26So he has a sort of understanding of of the area and pools fans. They love that blood and thunder approach, don't they?
06:32They love people to run through brick walls. He said in his update yesterday
06:36He wants players that will commit their souls
06:39To winning and I think that's the sort of that's the sort of style that we're gonna expect from Saul. He's prone to
06:46Gesticulations on the touchline. I think he copped a bit of flack when he came to the suit directors as working manager
06:52But he's he's maybe the kind of man that you want in your dugout
06:55I think in terms of style probably be a little bit more direct. He said it is first press conference
07:02He would accept his team making fewer passes if it meant they picked up
07:07More points and I know style is a big thing in football nowadays, particularly in the modern game
07:12But I think that ninety nine point nine nine percent of pools fans would happily accept fewer passes if it meant
07:19More points. I think
07:20Crucially, he's identified pools need to be much more athletic this season
07:24And I think most managers probably would have looked to you know
07:29Make them a bit more dynamic and energetic this summer no matter what but Sal's teams are renowned for that sort of high energy high intensity
07:37Style and I think it could be a it could be a big could be a good fit for pool. So, I mean, let's hope so
07:44a challenging job, but you know, he's he's definitely got a lot of the attributes needed to
07:49Do well and he'll he'll meet the challenge head-on as well. I think
07:53Yeah, very challenging job. A lot of managers will see come and gone before him and key
07:58I guess will be you know in terms of his budget and what kind of squad he can he can build together and
08:03But do you think pools have the basis?
08:05Obviously, they need a new goalkeeper for sure
08:07but with the two centre-backs and Manny and Luke Gray, do you think they have the basis of a
08:12Some key areas already kind of boxed off in terms of key players
08:15What what kind of areas do you think Sal will be looking to strengthen in particular?
08:19Yeah, I think you're right
08:21And that's really important. You don't want to have a whole
08:24I mean they sort of they need a considerable makeover, but maybe not quite wholesale changes
08:30It's so difficult to try and sign 15-20 new players because inevitably you're not going to get them all
08:35right a
08:37New goalkeeper without a doubt at least one new goalkeeper. Obviously, they've got Joel Dixon. He's been transfer listed
08:43So whether it's one or two new goalkeepers that probably depends on his future
08:47I mean you could look at Pete Jamison
08:49but I think they'll be reluctant to start the season with the same two goalkeepers as they started with last year given the
08:55Issues that they had. Scott Loach, a former Poole midfielder, he's available
08:59Paul Farman, I think might be available at Barrow
09:03He's one I like but they might have to might have to pay a fee for him, which might put them off
09:07I think the back four
09:08They're probably pretty settled. You mentioned Parks and Waterfront. I mean they made a massive impact in
09:14January I think they both could be potential candidates for the captaincy depending on what happens with Nicky Featherston
09:19certainly when Featherston
09:21Isn't playing. Ferguson's obviously signed a new deal and I think will will be the starting left-back again
09:26Sal said he tried to sign him when he was manager of Stevenage eight or nine years ago
09:30So that's a good indicator that he rates Ferguson. Dan Dodd's coming back at right-back
09:35That's gonna be a massive boost for Poole's and of course, they've got Stevenson and Campbell Darcy
09:40Two promising young fullbacks as well
09:43Midfield, I think it's got to be the
09:45The main area I would not be surprised at all if we saw a completely new midfield
09:51centrally anyway, whether it's a
09:52Two or a three. I mean if the three midfielders they've got on their books now, you can let Cook and Crawford go
09:58Last month Featherston play a coach role. How much are we gonna see of him?
10:02Kieran Wallace just can't seem to get fit and Mancini's back in France a minute
10:07We don't really know whether he's gonna be fit how fit he's gonna be or really where his future lies
10:12You think you need at least three new central midfielders and that's probably where Sal's gonna look to add that
10:18Energy industry dynamism that Poole's were lacking last season. I think the sort of one pace midfield was a bugbear of
10:25pretty much, you know 99% of
10:28supporters
10:30Keeping hold of Manny D and Joe Gray is gonna be key as well
10:33I think about half of all Poole's goals can be attributed to the two of them and they had a great partnership as well
10:39Which which counts for a lot?
10:41You'd still want to add I think in forward areas Umair and Chris Ray have both
10:46Gone, so you don't have a sort of second choice number nine
10:49That's not an easy thing to to recruit because from a strikers point of view
10:53They'll look at Manny D providing he stays they'll know he's the main man
10:57So you're probably gonna have to come in and be content to play second fiddle. So whether they look at
11:02sort of a loan, you know, maybe look at someone from one of the one of the
11:07local team song obviously said he wants to bring players in with ties to the Northeast that might be one that you can
11:12Look at and one or two wingers as well
11:14I think they'll need gray obviously as you give something out wide but he can play sort of anywhere in front of you know
11:20in the forward line and
11:22I think what they want to be looking with those wingers
11:24Sometimes it's a bit of a lottery with wingers. They can be a bit inconsistent, but you need some more pace
11:28I think gray is the only man in forward areas that really gave them any pace last season
11:34Which can make you a bit one-dimensional at times if teams can mark Manny D out the game, which obviously doesn't happen too often
11:41So probably I think so we'll look for you know, somewhere between six and nine new faces something like that. Just just on grades
11:50Surprised you how what he did last season obviously Kevin Phillips keep want to say super Kevin Phillips
11:56Certainly looks to get the best out of him last season
11:59Falls over an asset on his on the Hansa
12:02Well, they certainly do
12:03I mean he's what he's only 20 still a hundred pools appearances more than 100 pools appearances now bought that milestone up in
12:10The second half of last season. I think it's surprised a lot of people
12:14I've always been a fan of great to be honest. I mean he broke into the team when he was 16 17
12:21It's easy to forget that he's still only 20 probably had he played 10 or 15 games
12:26Prior to this season people would be even more excited about him
12:29I know that sounds like a strange thing to say, but you know people have maybe been a little bit
12:36Frustrated that he didn't kick on as much as they
12:39Might have hoped up until this season. I know that Joe would say he hasn't always had regular starts
12:44It's so difficult when you're only trying to when you're only playing 15 20 minutes in each game
12:48You've got to come on and make an impact and often you're either coming on trying to protect a lead
12:54Which is not too healthy for an attacker or you're chasing a game which which can be difficult as well
13:00I think 13 goals. I think he's scored 18 career goals. So 13 of them came
13:05Last season seven or eight came under Kevin Phillips as well. He really unlocked something in him
13:11But there's no reason he's not going to go on and continue to be successful at pools just because Phillips departed
13:17I think there's always been a
13:18Really good player in there. He's got a lot of the attributes
13:21To do well and he's well-placed given that he's still a youngster and so has a lot of potential to go on in there
13:27To go on and do well, he's got great pace. And of course, he's got really good experience
13:31There can't be many 20 year olds have played as many games
13:34As he has so yeah pools have definitely got an asset on their hands
13:38He's obviously under contract wouldn't be surprised if there was some interest in him this summer
13:42But I think pools will be keen to show some resolve and keep hold of him as you know
13:47Providing some ridiculous offer that they can't refuse doesn't come in. Let's hope that
13:51Let's hope that we see him at the suit direct again next season because he was he really kicked on last time. Yeah, it's obviously
13:57The transfer sort of season and pools fans will be eagerly anticipating what kind of business pools and Sal will do
14:05We'll kind of get to like how the kind of pools recruitment process works shortly around transfer
14:13Sal's spoken of the need for patience
14:15Being a slightly elongated summer with kind of the Euros and they're not going to affect in terms of how that you know
14:21slows down a bit of transfer business this time of year and
14:24Bulls fans will look to a few of the club's barn and a few others in the league have made several signs already
14:28What what's your kind of override overriding view on pools position transfer wise and no need to panic just yet?
14:36But I imagine the players be back in training in about three or four weeks
14:38So they could probably do with what you're in maybe ten signs before the start of the season
14:43Yeah, I think you you summed it up pretty well now. I mean I
14:46Think people use the sort of euros comment as a stick with which to beat him
14:50I don't think so. I was saying that the euros are is why we haven't signed any players
14:54He was just saying that it's gonna means an elongated summer. It is not unusually long
14:59Long summer said there's definitely no need to panic. I
15:03Mean you look at some sides like Barnett. They've made eight signings woking five York for
15:09That can only be a good thing from their point of view if pools a sign for five players
15:14We'd be sitting on here saying that's fantastic. They get in their business done
15:18Really early that's gonna bode. Well, and of course you want to have
15:22At least some of your business done before the players return for preseason if possible, you know as pools fans
15:28You don't have to look too far back to sort of remember some incredibly chaotic
15:33Preseasons and up all hearty when they had sort of seven or eight players and that just doesn't bode
15:38Well for success you you want new players to have time to settle
15:41Get to know the way the manager works get to know how your teammates working
15:46and so on and so forth and of course, there's a little bit of a
15:51There's you know fans are a little bit so that they're itching to get something over the line because they're worried that all the best players
15:56Are gonna get snapped up at this stage. That's not quite how it works. I mean if you look at last year
16:02Probably the two mo
16:03Well, I think definitely the two most successful transfers pools made Manny disarray and Anthony Mancini
16:08They were both signed in July. So it just goes to show that there's plenty of good business that can still be done
16:15It's important to be patient I mean it's worth bearing in mind song only was appointed at the back end of April
16:21He's been here for a month or so
16:23And of course, he'll keep abreast of what's going on and things and he might have had some transfer targets in mind
16:29But you have to use sign transfer specifically for the club that you're working at. So he will probably have had to
16:35reassess in terms of what he wants to do recruitment wise and maybe that sets you back a little bit and
16:41You don't want to panic by as well or panic sign that's equally important
16:47So no need to panic just yet. It would be really nice to get some business done next month for loads of reasons
16:54Not just in terms of getting players settled and getting them in early. It'll boost morale
16:59In terms of the fan base the club will be thinking if we can get a few through the door
17:02It's gonna encourage season tickets as well
17:04So it can only be a good thing if you can get your business done early
17:07But it's not always that easy and there's definitely no need to panic just yet
17:11And I guess just for those fans who might not be totally across how transfers work at Poole's
17:17There's a few names in there, a few people who have been involved in it including
17:23Poole's legend Ronnie Moore, shout out to him. He'll have his say as well in terms of
17:28Recruitment and I know I think Sal had mentioned any
17:32targeting sort of North East based players as well. Not obviously fully but to try and get a core
17:38Is that the kind of right way to go do you think and just to give people a flavour as well
17:42I guess in terms of how recruitment works at Poole's a little bit
17:45Yes, I think just in terms of the the way the recruitment is gonna work
17:49this summer
17:51Slightly different. I think it's gonna be a
17:54Sort of signing by committee approach if you like. I assume Sal will have the final say on it
18:00You know, he's the manager
18:01They're gonna be players that ultimately will define his future success or failure at the club
18:06But Ronnie Moore, like you say
18:09Poole's legend
18:11Chief Scout nowadays
18:13All Poole's fans will know that he knows how to spot a player
18:16so his influence presumably can only be a
18:19Positive thing and again, you know Sal is all about characters and people that can can stand up when it really matters
18:26Similar to Ronnie, you know
18:27You look at what he did when he when he took over and obviously masterminded the great escape
18:31You needed those characters in the squad
18:34So I think that that Ronnie will have an important role to play there. Head of football Joe Monks as well
18:38I think he's gonna have a say in what goes on transfer wise. I think he gives a different perspective. He's obviously a
18:45Ronnie weren't mind me saying he's obviously at the opposite end of his career
18:49so, you know that that that could be interesting to see how that works and and certainly it gives
18:55Gives pools of one or two different viewpoints. I guess Carl Dickinson the new assistant will have a say but he's obviously gonna be
19:01Secondary to to solve so
19:04for main players in terms of how you know, identifying and recruiting
19:10signings that that's that's gonna be
19:13you know, that's gonna be how how it goes this summer and
19:18Yeah, it's it's such it's such an important summer, isn't it?
19:21I mean Sal has said that that recruitment is everything pretty much it so often it defines the the success or failure of a
19:29Of a manager so it's not a new look approach for for pools
19:33and let's hope that it's gonna be successful and presumably Sal will have a
19:38We'll have mostly the final say and he'll have in mind what he wants and more and Monks can can just
19:43You know add something add something to that. Hopefully and I guess whilst
19:48Full sounds obviously, you know wait for the kind of squad picture to pull together one thing that pools to do
19:55Quickly after Kevin Phillips is X. It was kind of get the management and the coaching staff
20:00Settled quite quickly. So we'll see the departure of Anthony Sweeney
20:03Shout out to him after his many valuable years of service to pools as a player coach caretaker boss held many roles
20:11very popular amongst the
20:13You know fans and squad and sad to see him go but it gives an opportunity for furthest in this kind of step up
20:19And
20:20I'm sure Ferguson will still like to play his first share of games, but he is, you know
20:24The other end of his career now, I guess he should also be just testimonial this summer
20:27shouldn't he so we look forward to details on that as and when and
20:30what you make the coaching self so by him by pools and
20:35Chance for Nikki Ferguson to move in a slightly new role
20:38Yeah, interesting one. I mean first and foremost
20:40It was a it was a shame to seem see Sweeney go in many ways you alluded to it there
20:45I mean a club legend, isn't it?
20:47Wonderful player one of the all-time
20:50highest appearance makers in a
20:52coach a youth team coach and assistant coach
20:56Assistant head coach as he was last year. I think and obviously a few spells as caretaker and an interim
21:02So definitely a shame to see him go but not a huge surprise given that the new manager comes in
21:07he's gonna want to work with someone that he knows and someone that he trusts and inevitably he doesn't have that relationship with
21:14With Sweeney so it wasn't too much of a surprise to see him look to bring in his own man
21:18Kyle Dickinson who's only 37. I think still playing up until a couple of months ago
21:24Has a background in strength and conditioning coaching as well. I think done some coaching at
21:29Stoke way where he was a player for a few years
21:33So that's gonna be an interesting one and obviously fitness is gonna be one of the order
21:36Orders of the day this summer because pools weren't always the fittest side
21:40Last season so that's gonna be something that they're gonna focus on it and Featherstone
21:43Well, I was pleased to see Featherstone stay at the club. Like you say he's due a testimonial
21:48He divides opinion Featherstone
21:50He always has I think he's heading into his 11th season at the club and probably in all of those 10 seasons that have gone
21:56by
21:57He tends to divide opinion. I
22:00Think pools really missed him at the start of last season though
22:02You'd have to say he obviously left initially last summer came back in October and played I think 34 games after that
22:09He was pretty much ever-present
22:10but he's gonna be 36 in in September and as we've already said pools were a bit one-paced in in
22:17Midfield, so I think Darren Sowers described it as a transitional player coach deal. So that should
22:23Give him a chance to continue to make an impact on the pitch
22:26He'll certainly feel like he's more than capable of making an impact on the pitch still
22:30He's never been the most mobile
22:32But he's always been an excellent footballer and a intelligent footballer and a good reader of the game as well
22:38He'll definitely want to make an impact it remains to be seen how much
22:41Time song is gonna give him on the pitch
22:45But it's a it's a welcome thing, you know, these players Featherstone 36 in September
22:49He'll be thinking about his next steps and it's almost the perfect opportunity, isn't it to be a player coach?
22:56you have a chance to do a bit of both cut your teeth as a coach and work under Saul who has
23:0120 20 odd years of experience in coaching despite only being 41. He's a very experienced coach
23:08Already, so I think it's a move that makes perfect sense and it's important
23:11So I wanted to keep that
23:13DNA of you know
23:14Featherstone knows what it means to be Hartlepool United and he knows what it means to be in a successful Hartlepool United team having
23:19been an integral part of the the playoff campaign similar to David Ferguson's I was keen to
23:24To keep them because they do embody pools. He felt since not everyone's cup of tea. I think he's a
23:29unfairly criticized a
23:31Lot of the time but definitely a positive to see him
23:34Staying on he's got a lot of experience in the game. It's difficult to know how
23:38Successful or otherwise he's going to be as a coach, but he's really well respected within the squad
23:42So I think you should be well suited to the new role. I
23:46wonder if the
23:47players read Sarl's update on the other website the other day because it was it was quite clear what they'll be doing in preseason in
23:54the opening week anyway sounded like
23:56physical introduction to life at pools
23:59Well, you wouldn't be
24:01Necessarily relishing that prospect would you but Kevin Phillips? What's kind of said the same thing?
24:05I think he had me more in was ready to put them through their paces and they do need that
24:09They won two midweek matches all of last season. They did tend to tear him off a bit in the second half of of
24:16Games, they had a lot of injuries as well
24:18If you can be if you can start the season in really good shape injuries apart football
24:23Sometimes they just happen but you give yourself a better chance of avoiding injuries that you know
24:27The final day against talking they had only had 15 available players
24:32Including two goalkeepers and and I think four or five teenagers something like that
24:36You obviously want to avoid that you obviously want to be be fitter from the players point of view. It's important
24:41They take care of themselves
24:43This summer in the offseason, and I'm sure that they will you know, they don't want to
24:48They don't need to be patronized. They're professional athletes there. They'll take good care of themselves. But yeah, they're definitely gonna be a
24:54Put through their paces, I'm not sure we'll see the the footballs at the training ground for a couple of weeks
25:00Yes, I was obviously got some some some tough some tough first few sessions in store for them
25:06So, uh, you know, they they might lost a bit of sleep last night, I think
25:11And just sort of finally, um, obviously hopefully we'll have a lot of them transfer
25:15used to discuss in the weeks when when things do crank up a little bit but I'm just to kind of bring it close to
25:20the first first part of the season and
25:22How do you think this season will pan out? Sal's obviously, you know made it he's I guess
25:28Lowered expectations slightly when he referenced playoffs will be the target, you know rather than full-on championship tilt, but
25:35You know, do you kind of it's difficult to gauge
25:38I guess at the minute given that they don't you know, they don't have their team and squad fully in place
25:42But how what would your prediction be ahead of the new season? What do you think would be a reasonable?
25:47Reasonable outcome for for Sal and Poole's this season?
25:50Yeah, I know some people were a bit frustrated that Sal didn't say oh we're gonna
25:54Win the league or whatever. Of course, they're gonna try and win the league. That's everyone's aim at the start of the season
25:59I think playoffs would be a would be a success. The National League is notoriously difficult because there's only one automatic
26:06Spot so you have to be the best team in the league
26:09You have to be better than 23 of your rivals if you want to go up automatically
26:13I mean the one thing Poole's might look at is the league is probably more open this season than it has been
26:18In previous years when you've had a Wrexham and a Notts County and obviously last last year Chesterfield were
26:24Were incredibly impressive as well and they've got plenty of financial
26:29Pulling power so it can be difficult to compete with with that. I mean the one thing the National League does give you is
26:36Budget is obviously always going to play an important factor
26:40But it can it is a slightly more level playing field than if you go further up the divisions
26:44I mean you're altering and finish fourth last season. I can't imagine that they have the biggest budget
26:50Older shot they just missed out in the end didn't they but they were in the playoffs for
26:53Most of the season under former Poole me Tommy Widdrington again. They don't have a massive
26:59Ward chest so it just goes to show what what can be done
27:01And of course, we don't quite know what the budgets gonna be
27:04So I said that he was he was satisfied it was gonna give him enough to do what he wants to
27:10to do and achieve what he wants to try and achieve as
27:13He said it really it's about how you spend it
27:15it's difficult to know how well or otherwise pools are gonna do at this stage because the squad is still in need of
27:21They've probably got half the squad and a lot will depend on whether they keep
27:25Manning disarray and and and Joe gray obviously disarray in particular after 25 goals in a season 23 in the league
27:32Number nines as well. They're such valuable commodities
27:35They're gonna be I'm sure there'll be some interest in him
27:37But pools if rumors are to believed have already turned down bits of him in January
27:41Supporters will be hopeful. They can they can keep hold of them. I
27:45think it's an open league as I said, but I think playoffs would be a
27:50successful season saw Scott previous of masterminding a playoff push and
27:55That would be I think that would be a good effort for
27:58from pools
28:00There's the expectation that pools are a football league club and historically they are fifth highest average average attendance as well in the National League
28:08Last season you think that might bump up one given that that Chesterfield have gone out the league as well
28:14So understandably there's high expectations. I definitely appreciate some of the fans frustrations last season was in general
28:20really disappointing
28:22It's it's always it's really difficult to call but I would say playoffs would be a would definitely be a success next season
28:30Good stuff. Thank you, Robbie. Thanks rich. Welcome to the welcome to the mail. Welcome to
28:37and
28:38Yeah, we'll be bringing you this podcast pools fans on a regular basis throughout the season
28:43But even got a new logo no expense spared at mail towers. And as I say, hopefully in the coming weeks, we'll have
28:50Yeah transfer business will start ramp up so we can that we can just discuss that and a bit more a bit more depth
28:55but in the meantime, um
28:57Yeah, keep an eye out for mail print edition, which is out every week and obviously log on to the hotmail
29:02Website for the latest from Robbie from the Sudirac Stadium and until next time we'll see you soon. Thanks everyone