NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW: ASKEY READY TO LIFT POOLS

EXPERIENCED boss John Askey wants to harness the positive energy at Hartlepool United to help the club bounce straight back into the Football League.

- John Lyons

Some might have expected a mood of doom and gloom at the north-east outfit following their second relegation from the EFL in the space of six years.

But Askey, who led unfancied Macclesfield Town to a surprise National League title success in 2017-18, says that is far from the case. An improvement in results following his appointment in late February suggested Pools can play a bit and some canny summer recruitment has increased the level of expectation.

“It’s devastating for the football club to drop out of the Football League,” Askey told The NLP. “The biggest effect is on supporters, though ours knew it could happen from previous experience.

“Despite what’s happened, season ticket sales have been higher this season than last season. There is a mood of optimism, probably because of the upturn in results and how we played at the back end of last season.

“There is a feelgood factor and the only way we can keep that going is by winning games. That’s what we have got to do.

“The support the team gets from the fans is unbelievable. When we were already relegated last season, we went to Stockport and the supporters cheered the lads off. You would think we had stayed up or won something!

“Hartlepool isn’t an easy place for away teams to come. If we can get the crowd going, it can put teams on the back foot.”