SIMON'S GOT HIS WORK CUT OUT!

A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL

- Chris DUNLAVY

HARTLEPOOL fans can be forgiven for affording Simon Grayson the sort of welcome reserved for cold-callers and travelling salesmen.

They've learned from painful experience that a big name with an impressive CV is no guarantee of success.

I was sitting at a table with several other journalists when Dave Jones shambled into a function room at the Vic in January 2017.

Shirt untucked over a scruffy pair of jeans, the former Wolves and Southampton manager wore the disdainful air of a society heiress forced to model for Primark.

Appearances can be deceptive, but not in this case. Jones lost his first game to rock-bottom Newport and never looked (or sounded) remotely invested in the task of keeping Hartlepool in the Football League.

Jeff Stelling begged him to quit on Sky Sports News. Striker Billy Paynter openly criticised his tactics. He did eventually resign, but too late to avert relegation.

Today, Jones is widely regarded as the single most unpopular in Hartlepool's history.