Pools set for Relegation Battle

By Albatross
January 2 2006

The time has come to recognise the situation Hartlepool United are in: without a dramatic turnaround, relegation is a distinct possibility. The question is, can Pools avoid the drop?

So the vital Christmas period is over, and the verdict is in: Pools are more likely to be involved in a relegation scrap this season than a playoff battle. The question is, can we escape the dreaded drop?

Anyone that thinks that's a bit of an over-reaction should take a look at the League Table, the teams below us, and our recent form. Pools may have put in a few better performances, but the results have if anything got even worse which possibly says something about our performances in the games before that. Christmas has seen us take just two points from the twelve on offer. Back on December 12th I commented that I'd be more convinced a corner had been turned if we'd collected nine or ten points from the following five games: instead we have two. Over the last ten league matches we've taken a grand total of eight points.

Pools are currently 18th, and the sides below us include a couple at least that are starting to stage a recovery. We're level on points with Gillingham, who have a game in hand over us; just one point ahead of Bristol City, who are finally starting to show that they do know how to win with a run of four wins and two draws in their last six. Although the gap to Rotherham in the last relegation place is still five points, Swindon are starting to put a run together as well and suddenly things are starting to look highly uncomfortable. For the first time since the bad start to the season back in 2001/2, Pools fans are looking with no little anxiety at the bottom end of the table.

Part of the result is that fans - particularly those that are not part of the hard core - are drifting away. There were just over 4000 home fans present for the game with Swindon - on a Bank Holiday Monday no less. 240 travelled to Oldham: two years ago, at the same time of year (a Saturday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day) we took 540.

My personal opinion therefore is that unless Martin Scott can do what he has so far failed to do and get Pools picking up results consistently, we can forget the playoffs or even the top half. Avoiding relegation is the aim now, and so that's the line I'm going to be taking from now on unless and until I see reason to do otherwise. Depressing, isn't it - but unfortunately it's also realistic. At a time when we have the largest playing squad we've had, about as high a wage bill as we've ever had, and the most reason for confidence before the start of the season, it's all gone horribly wrong.