Questions mount up as Pools head for season's end

Right, so let’s get this right. Pools will survive this season and, because of IOR’s backing, they will avoid the financial problems that are causing trouble to a lot of other clubs. But then what? Well, then there are a lot of questions to answer. For instance, are they fixed up to sign Adam Boyd during the summer and will he be able to make up for the departure of Joel Porter?

Will they do what Chris Turner has admitted they failed to do last summer and make a few more signings to boost the squad and give the fans something to get excited about?
And talking of Chris Turner (right), will he get the manager’s job on a more permanent basis, or will they look for somebody else?
That last question is probably the easiest of the lot to answer – it’s a resounding yes, for a lot of reasons.
The first is that Turner has got the team playing better than it was, but in addition appointing him saves money because it means he can be Director of Sport AND team manager.
Will they have another mediocre season in 2009-10, will it all go pear-shaped and they’ll be relegated, or will they do what we all dream about and make it to the play-offs again?
Hopefully IOR will be as bored with mid-table mediocrity as we are and will have a go, but in order to do that they’ve got to have the cash to spare for team building.
The fact that Turner mentioned some weeks ago that the club is actively exploring Scandinavian football for new recruits suggests that there will be no big-money transfers coming in, and that is not surprising in the current economic climate.
Boyd? Well, where would you rather live and work – East Lunnun or Artlepool? Their lass is allegedly having a bairn, or might already have done so, and it’s been claimed she wants to be back here for family reasons.
It could be a dream move, but it could be a flop - there are a lot of people in football who say you should never go back. Ask Kevin Keegan.
Porter? He’s been one of the best players Pools have ever had and deserves the chance to go home and get warm. If he does leave, he will do so with the best wishes of everybody at the club and on the terraces – but how can he be replaced?
Next question – will IOR and the Council agree on a deal for the Vic? It's to be hoped they do, because if the club is to develope further, owning the ground is vital, as we have been told time and time again.
But it's all gone quiet on that front - so is that good news or bad?
One thing for sure - the club will tell us nowt until after it's happened.