Hartlepool United have parted company with manager Simon Grayson after just four months in charge, with the boot coming after their dismal 1-1 draw at the Northolme against Gainsborough yesterday.
In further Lincolnshire interest, one-time Imps loanee Adam Smith is now part of the interim coaching team at Victoria Park. No, not that Adam Smith.
The National League side confirmed the decision following a run of one win in eleven matches, with Saturday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw against the Holy Blues proving to be Grayson’s final game in charge.
Grayson was appointed in June as successor to Anthony Limbrick and led a complete rebuild of the Hartlepool squad over the summer, recruiting fourteen new players. A strong start of ten points from the first four league games quickly faded, and the side now sit twelfth in the National League table after fourteen matches.
Hartlepool’s board released a statement confirming that results had fallen short of expectations. They noted that “obtaining one win in the last eleven games falls short of the required standard,” before adding their thanks to Grayson for his efforts during what they described as a challenging period.
In the aftermath of his departure, long-serving midfielder Nicky Featherstone will take temporary charge, assisted by Elliott Dickman and Adam Smith. Dickman only joined the club’s coaching staff last week following the exit of assistant manager Neil McDonald, while Smith, who spent the latter stages of the 2011/12 season at City, steps up to help lead the side through an uncertain period.
Smith was a victim of the Carshalton curse, despite not kicking a ball! After his loan started, he was an unused sub against York City, then on the bench for both games against Carshalton, widely regarded as a low point for the club.
Three days later, we drew 3-3 with Gateshead, and Smith had been replaced by Nick Draper, never to be seen again. He was seen again elsewhere, obviously, appearing in the Football League for the likes of Northampton and Bristol Rovers.
The trio will oversee Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay against Gainsborough at Victoria Park, aiming to bring some stability after an eleven-game run without victory.
Despite recent struggles, Hartlepool remain within reach of the play-off positions, and the club’s hierarchy are expected to take their time before naming a permanent replacement for Grayson.
It seems strange to me that Hartlepool, known as the Monkey Hangers, are no longer on our fixture list. My first game was against them, but it’s been 19 years since we’ve met in the EFL – they swapped places with us in 2017, meaning our paths didn’t cross.
We did meet in the FA Cup in 2021, with them winning 1-0. In 2007, we played them in the EFL Trophy, losing 5-2 at home. Maybe it’s best we don’t have to play them anymore – our last league win at Victoria Park was 1994!
You must be logged in to post a comment.