NL 2025/26 Preview: Hartlepool United

7th July 2025 3:21 pm

Hartlepool United – 2025/26 Season Preview: Another Summer, Same Sinking Feeling

Another season in the National League. Another year without promotion. Another cycle of hope, disillusionment, and messageboard meltdowns. In other words: business as usual at Hartlepool United.

The 2024/25 campaign promised much – mainly because it had to – but delivered yet another mid-table slog. 11th place was neither good enough to challenge nor bad enough to collapse completely. It was a holding pattern, but with no airport in sight.

The cup competitions offered no escape. A limp FA Cup exit to Brackley Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round summed up the direction of travel, while Tamworth knocked Pools out of the FA Trophy on penalties in front of a weary home crowd.

Through it all, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe did his best to keep things ticking, scoring 17 goals in another consistent campaign. He has since departed – leaving more puzzles for new boss Simon Grayson to resolve.

And off the pitch? Well that’s chaos too.

2024/25 Season in Review

Final Position: 11th
Top Scorer: Emmanuel Dieseruvwe (17 goals)
Average Attendance: 3,758 (4th highest in the National League)
FA Cup: Fourth Qualifying Round – lost 3–1 away at Brackley Town
FA Trophy: Third Round – lost on penalties to Tamworth at home

Grayson’s Rebuild Amid Boardroom Drama

Hartlepool United enter the 2025/26 season under a heavy cloud — but with a deeper squad and louder off-field noise than ever. Takeover talks with Herd International appear no further along than they were months ago, despite public claims of progress. Raj Singh remains in charge, much to the continued frustration of supporters who see a club treading water under a regime with no clear vision.

The situation escalated further earlier this summer when Jeff Stelling — a lifelong fan and former Sky Sports anchor — resigned as honorary president in protest at Singh’s handling of sale negotiations. Stelling cited the club’s stagnation and lack of transparency as key reasons, stating that “supporters have been left in an intolerable position.”

Singh’s response? A letter, issued at the beginning of August, to every National League club requesting they bar Stelling from their boardrooms on matchdays — a move widely mocked and condemned by fans. On The Poolie Bunker, supporters described it as “comedy gold” and “one of the most petty and embarrassing things the club has ever done.” Calls for Stelling masks and “I’m Spartacus” t-shirts have already begun ahead of the first home game.

Yet somehow, amid the chaos, Simon Grayson’s rebuild has taken shape. Just weeks ago, Pools had a 13-man squad and forums were joking about needing “robots” to fill the bench. Fast forward to August, and Grayson has brought in 11 new faces, including Danny Johnson (Walsall), Matty Daly (Harrogate), Jermaine Francis (Barnet), Alex Reid (Oldham), and loan additions like Besart Topalloj (Bromley) and Cameron John (York). The additions of Max Kouogun (Scunthorpe) and early summer recruits Brad Walker, Jay Benn, and Reiss McNally now give Hartlepool something they’ve lacked in years: actual depth.

It’s still far from perfect — goalkeeper remains a concern, pace out wide is limited, and fans remain unconvinced by the balance of the midfield. But for the first time this summer, supporters are debating footballing matters as much as off-field turmoil. Some still predict a bottom-six scrap, others quietly fancy a push for the play-offs. As one forum user put it, “We won’t go down — but we might not go anywhere fast either.”

The boardroom remains in flux, with former Gateshead chairman Neil Pinkerton joining as a non-executive director and Andy Steel stepping down.

Singh has floated the idea of a season ticket holder vote on his future, though no such ballot has materialised. As ever, uncertainty reigns.

Grayson deserves credit for knuckling down amid the noise, but unless ownership changes or a real culture shift emerges, Hartlepool’s potential will continue to be capped by the ceiling over the boardroom. For now, the hope is that this season isn’t defined by Singh or Stelling — but by points, progress, and pride. But as ever with Hartlepool, they’ve heard that before.

Signings and retained list

New signings: Brad Walker (Tranmere), Reiss McNally (Kidderminster), Jay Benn (Lincoln City), Danny Johnson (Walsall), Jermaine Francis (Barnet), Josh Donaldson (Newcastle U21s, immediately sent out on loan to Dunston), Matty Daly (Harrogate Town), Besart Topallaj (Bromley, loan until January 2026), Alex Reid (Oldham), Cameron John (York City, season loan), Max Kouogun (Scunthorpe United), Harvey Cartwright (Hull City, season loan)
Retained: Tom Parkes, Sam Folarin, Luke Charman, Adam Campbell, Adam Smith*, Nicky Featherstone*, Jamie Miley, Jack Hunter, Campbell Darcy, Louis Stephenson, Nathan Sheron, Joe Aungiers (promoted from Academy)
*Both listed as player-coaches.
Rumoured trialists: Adam Richardson (ex-Sunderland and England youth), Jake Hull, Ben Williams, and Josh Harrop

Departures

Released / Departed: Billy Sass-Davies (Altrincham), Jack Robinson, Max Storey, Joel Dixon, Gary Madine, Emmanuel Onariase, Luke Waterfall, Anthony Gomez-Mancini (Rochdale), Kieran Wallace, Gregg Sloggett (Boston United), Josh Mazfari (Redcar), David Ferguson (Gateshead), Mani Dieseruvwe (Rochdale), Joe Grey (York City)
Loan Returns: Reyes Cleary (West Brom), Darryl Ombang (Leeds), Dan Dodds (South Shields)

Poolie Bunker moderation

Meanwhile, prior to the influx of new arrivals, the following moderator post appeared on the “Poolie Bunker” forum. Here, the moderator (ironically named “Mr Irrelevant”) explains they have deleted certain posts after allegedly receiving a legal letter, noting that while moderation has been light for 20 years, potential libel issues now require a stricter approach.

Posts by “TwoTimes,” Mr Snowy, and Mutley were removed for making unproven claims about Raj Singh, with the moderator stressing that guesses stated as facts cannot be allowed. They acknowledge moderation has been neglected but warn it must change to protect the forum’s future, stating bluntly: “I’m not risking my house for a message board.” (fair point)!

Fans view: mixed season ahead

Hartlepool fans began the summer fearing the worst — another relegation battle, potential administration, and yet more stagnation under Raj Singh’s toxic ownership. Key departures like Mani Dieseruvwe and Joe Grey left a significant void, while early recruitment was slow and underwhelming. With just 13 senior players on the books by early July, even talk of fielding a full starting XI felt ambitious. Frustrations around a lack of communication, stalled takeover talks, and the bizarre fallout with Jeff Stelling only added fuel to a growing sense of anger and apathy.

But as the season opener draws near, there’s been a noticeable shift. Simon Grayson’s summer rebuild has gathered momentum, with a more balanced squad now in place. While fans remain wary — and understandably so — optimism has started to bubble just beneath the surface. The tone on forums has shifted from full-blown despair to cautious curiosity, with some now predicting a mid-table finish or better.

That’s not to say all is well. There are still holes in the squad, questions over creativity, and glaring concerns about ownership and long-term strategy. But for the first time this summer, talk has returned to football rather than farce. Grayson’s plan is becoming clearer, the squad looks fitter and more competitive, and while the ceiling may still be limited under Singh, there’s at least a sense that Pools can compete — and maybe even surprise a few along the way.

2025/26 Prediction

Hartlepool were originally tipped for a bottom-six finish — and in the first draft of this preview, they were firmly pinned in 20th. At the time, that felt realistic. A paper-thin squad, toxic ownership, and total off-field uncertainty looked set to undermine even the most experienced of managers.

But credit where it’s due: Simon Grayson has quietly built something that now looks much closer to National League-ready. The squad has been fleshed out with attacking threat in Johnson, Reid, and Daly, and the back line looks sturdier than it has in recent memory. Mid-table — somewhere between 12th and 15th — suddenly feels possible. Maybe even probable, if key players stay fit.

That said, this is Hartlepool United. Ownership drama still looms large, and just when you think things are turning a corner, they usually find a new way to implode. So while 20th might no longer be the safe bet it once was, no one would be shocked if they end up right back in the muck. A strong start could change everything. A messy October could bring it all crashing down again.