We've drawn too many times

Hartlepool United defender Tom Parkes does not believe a turbulent season off the pitch has impacted his side’s results and performances.

- Robbie Stelling

Pools have come to the end of another campaign that seemed to promise so much over the summer but has delivered more chaos and uncertainty than it has success.

The club have used three different managers for the second season in a row, with veteran Lennie Lawrence replacing the outspoken Darren Sarll in October before Anthony Limbrick, initially appointed as head coach in November, took on the top job following Lawrence's sudden resignation in February. Despite only being at the club for less than 18 months, Parkes has already played under four different managers.

Significantly, recent managerial appointments have seen Pools punt for a wide range of different characters with contrasting views on football. The decision to replace former Sunderland star and England international Kevin Phillips with the straight-talking Darren Sarll, for instance, could hardly have been a greater contrast.