By Charlie Summerbell
June 15 2011

Hartlepool United are more than halfway to their target in what many people believe is a unique season ticket sales drive. It's slow but steady progres as fans are invited to achieve a 4,000 sales target which would reduce prices to £100 - less than £4.50 a match. 

The figure has now gone well past the 2,000 mark, with a July 15 deadline.

If sales don’t hit 4,000 but reach 3,500 by then, adult tickets will cost £150, and the price for 3,000 sales will be £200.

If none of the targets are met, those who have already paid their initial £100 will pay the usual early-bird prices.

It’s difficult to tell what the final figure is likely to be, though 4,000 does appear to be somewhat ambitious.

However, the scheme does appear to be a good one under which the club wins either way – seasons ticket sales are up, and it’s guaranteed money in the bank before a ball is kicked in 2011-12.

If sales do pass 4,000 next season’s crowds will already be up on last season, if they fall short it means Pools still have a healthy number of tickets sold at higher prices.

Fans have generally reacted well to the scheme, but as with clubs at every level, the proof of the pudding will be in the way the team performs next season.

Mick Wadsworth will be starting his first full season as Pools boss after taking over in the opening month of last season when Chris Turner left. However, the small print still doesn’t say MW is manager – he is chief coach, and Turner’s old role of Director Sport appears to have been made redundant.

Fancy that.

The signing of Nobby Solano appears a good one on the face of it, but Pools fans have seen such signings many times before, though admittedly none of them were Peruvian internationals.

If he makes it clear he has signed to play and not just top earn a few bob, it could make all the difference to a team that struggled to find consistency last season.

All Wadsworth needs then is a regular goalscorer.