Football Season Guide

Hartlepool United have cause for optimism ahead of the new season under manager Craig Hignett. The rookie boss took over the reigns at Pools in February 2016 and successfully steered the club away from a relegation battle. The same could have been said a year ago however having pulled off one of the greatest escapes from relegation under experienced manager Ronnie Moore in 2014/15. They were ten points adrift at the bottom of League Two in early-February but a remarkable turnaround, including four successive victories saw the side secure their Football League status against the odds. Moore strengthened his squad last summer which the additions of goalkeeper Trevor Carson and striker Billy Paynter and they won their opening four matches before it all went wrong. They won just two of their next 13 league games and despite his heroics less than 12 months earlier, Moore was sacked in February and replaced by Hignett. His appointment was a gamble but it soon paid off with eight wins in 16 matches and the side finished in 16th place in the table. Hignett brought the best out of winger Nathan Thomas in his preferred 4-3-3 formation and has been busy over the summer strengthening his squad. The loss of full-back Michael Duckworth to Fleetwood Town is a blow but he has otherwise retained the basis of a strong squad. He has pulled off something of a coup with the capture of striker Padraig Amond, who notched 30 goals for promoted Grimsby Town in the National League last season. Centre-back Toto Nsiala has also joined from the Mariners whilst midfielders Jordan Cook and Nicky Deverdics and striker Lewis Alessandra have also been signed from Walsall, Dover Athletic and Rochdale respectively. Pools can go into the 2016/17 season with hopes that they will be looking up rather than down.