Hughes

By Charlie Summerbell
November 14 2012

Hartlepool United chairman Ken Hodcroft has provided further evidence that he does the job as he sees fit and not as other people think he should do it by appointing John Hughes as the club's new manager.

Hodcroft is thought to have virtually offered the job to former Pools defender Phil Brown, but when talks over the terms of his appointment broke down, Hughes was brought in immediately.

That will probably have come as a shock to Brown, who had gone home possibly expecting Pools to get back in touch and agree to his demands, initially thought to be that he could bring his own backroom team with him, but later said to be another matter.

Hughes leaves Livingston after just nine months in charge of the Scottish club, though he was earlier manager at Falkirk and Hibs, and enjoyed success with both clubs.

Pools chief exec Russ green said: "We're convinced we've got the right man in place to take the club forward.  

"Everybody knows that this appointment was a crucial one for the club, so we have taken our time, assessed our options and John is the choice we are all extremely happy with.

"He has a vision for the football club, he has a passion and a drive to succeed, and we hope that the fans will be as excited as we are to have him in place."

The news has shocked many people in Scottish football, but Hughes wanted to have a go south of the border.

Livingston chief executive Ged Nixon said: “John has made a big contribution in his time at the club and it was with great reluctance we accepted his resignation.

“He has been offered a great chance by Hartlepool and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Barron will remain as a coach, though his exact role needs to be resolved.

Hughes is known as a hard man and is expected to take no prisoners in his bid to rescue Pools from the mire they are in … starting at home to Coventry on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, while he was favourite for the job anbd many fans wanted him, some will possibly regard Brown’s departure from the scene as a narrow escape rather than a missed opportunity.

Whether Hodcroft has made the right choice with Hughes remains to be seen, but his decision not to chase Brown could be a good one from many points of view.

Message board traffic suggests that many fans are disappointed that Brown hasn't got the job, but is that based on the fact that he used to play for the club? Surely it can't be based on his managerial record or his image and reputation in the game.

A lot of inexplicable hatred is manifesting itself - hatred for IOR, Ken Hodcroft, Barron, Humphreys and others.

Here at the kipper factory we believe Hodcroft was right not to be messed about, but was wrong to go for Brown in the first place.

As for Yogi ... the jury's out, as it always is with a new manager (sorry, chief coach).