By Eggy_Poolie
July 17 2006

Well, well, well... back in the basement league of English football. In 2003 we thought we said goodbye to it for good but now were back and it must be said with a much stronger side

Well, well, well...

back in the basement league of English football. In 2003 we thought we said goodbye to it for good but now were back and it must be said with a much stronger side. Many people believed last season we were too good to be relegated included several managers like Huddersfields Peter Jackson.

However once again everything has changed at the Vic this season from the staff to the ground. Danny Wilson has been announced as the new manager and Ian Butterworth as his assistant. Between the two of them they have a wealth of experience. Danny Wilson having managed at every tier in the English game and Ian Butterworth has just returned from Germany after working with the FA.

No secret has been made about the construction that has been taking place at Victoria Park either. A new roof has been built on the Camerons Brewery Stand, which resembles that on the Expamet Town End and Cyril Knowles Stand. Also over the closed season the groundsman, Dave Brown has been working on the pitch bringing it to the super-standards of which Pools have been used to over the last 5+ years.

On the pitch the squad is very similar to that of last season. Hugh 'the hammer' Robertson and Stevie Istead are the main first team players who have been released. Thomas Butler and Darren Williams have both handed in transfer requests but both are still with the club. The latest rumours are Darren Williams being linked with Premiership Sheffield United and Tommy Butler has been linked with a preposed move to Bournemouth.

Over the pre-season the main rumour of an incoming player was that of JP McGovern but after he signed for fellow promotion rivals MK Dons that rumour was obviously squashed. It does appear however that Ali Gibb of Bristol Rovers is about to make his way to Hartlepool after being in talks with the club.

Swansea manager Kenny Jacket is alleged to be on the case of Pools no.1 Dimi Konstantopolous and young full-back John Brackstone but neither Swansea or Hartlepool have released a statement. 

Hartlepool are odds on favourites for promotion as some bookies place them at 14/1 to win the league, tied with Swindon and Walsall. Other promotion contenders include MK Dons, Grimsby, Lincoln and Darlington