Hartlepool United Odds: 14/1 Last Five Seasons 2005/06 - 21 (League One, Relegated), 2004/05 - 6 (League One). 2003/04 - 6 (League One), 2002/03 - 2 (League Two, Promoted), 2001/02 - 7 (League Two). 2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Second Round vs Tamworth (h) - lost 2-1. Carling Cup Second Round vs Charlton Athletic (a) - lost 3-1. Football League Trophy Northern Section First Round vs Scunthorpe United (a) - lost 1-0. Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Michael Proctor & Eifion Williams (strikers) - seven goals each. Players Out Chris Llewellyn (Wrexham - Free), Darren Craddock (York City - Free), Jack Wilkinson (Released), Steven Istead (Released), Hugh Robertson (Released), James Winter (Released), Andrew Appleby (Released), Neil Wilkinson (Released). Hartlepool United crashed out of League One last season after two unsuccessful play-off bids, in which they lost 4-2 to Sheffield Wednesday in the 2004/05 final and 3-2 on aggregate against Bristol City in the 2003/04 semi final. Both Martin Scott, in his first managerial role and his replacement Paul Stephenson from February, could not halt Hartlepool's slide and the club finished fourth from bottom, two points adrift of safety. Former MK Dons manager Danny Wilson, himself sacked after the club suffered relegation to League Two last season, has taken over the reigns following spells in charge at Barnsley, Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday. Wilson revealed he had been offered a role with a Premier League club but turned it down in favour of trying to turn around the fortunes of the Victoria Park club. Regarding playing staff, it's a case of as you were, since no players have been signed at the time of writing. Wilson will need more from last season's top goal scorers Michael Proctor and Eifion Williams as seven goals apiece won't be enough to win them the league, or automatic promotion this season. Young striker James Brown will be snapping at their heels following promising pre season form after missing most of the last campaign with a knee injury. Midfielder Chris Llewellyn has left for former club Wrexham after just one season at Victoria Park. The once capped Wales international found it difficult to hold down a starting place and left in search of regular first team football. Elsewhere, Ian Butterworth has been appointed as the reserve team manager after spells as assistant manager at Cardiff City and Darlington and working at the World Cup for the Football Association. Verdict This could be a season of reorganisation for Danny Wilson and while the club are among the bookmaker's pre season favourites to win League Two, they may not even make the play offs at the end of May. |
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