Hartlepool ‘make late move’ for manager ‘left in the dark’ by relegated EFL club

Hartlepool ‘make a late move’ for manager Lee Clark who has been ‘left in the dark’ by recently relegated EFL club Rotherham.

Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) tweeted: “Understand Hartlepool have made a late move for Lee Clark to become their new manager ahead of Lee Cattermole. Clark ended the season as Rotherham manager and was expected to stay with the Millers. #Pools #hufc #rufc”

It comes just days after he reported: “Understand former Middlesbrough and Sunderland star Lee Cattermole has agreed a deal to become Hartlepool’s new manager in what will be his first managerial role. #hufc #pools”

Clark was named Millers manager until the end of the season back in March, but still remains in the dark as to whether he will lead them in League Two.

Understand Hartlepool have made a late move for Lee Clark to become their new manager ahead of Lee Cattermole. Clark ended the season as Rotherham manager and was expected to stay with the Millers. #Pools #hufc #rufc pic.twitter.com/tA0skHfeXX

— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) May 11, 2026

Understand former Middlesbrough and Sunderland star Lee Cattermole has agreed a deal to become Hartlepool’s new manager in what will be his first managerial role. #hufc #pools pic.twitter.com/3fYLkNcqY5

— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) May 8, 2026

Lee Clark spoke on his future, following the Millers’ 3-2 defeat at Wycombe on the final day:

“It’s black or white and at the moment I’m finished as the Rotherham United manager. I’d love to continue but what I can’t afford to let happen for myself as well as it drags on and it drags on because I know the seriousness and the size of the rebuild that’s required and if you waste any time doing that’s why, you know, be going back on the bus now and having communications with people, potential new sign-ins, agents and then I should be tomorrow morning informing players who would be staying and who won’t and wishing them the best to luck for their careers in whichever way they want to go, Monday morning as well. But that cannot happen because I’m not the manager and it’s not my position to do that.”

Interviewer: “I spoke to lot of fans outside of the ground today. I didn’t speak to anyone who didn’t want you to get the job. That support from them, however this…”

Clark: “Their support’s been unbelievably special. That’s why this club will always have it, even though I’ve been a short period of time. The support they’ve shown me as the manager, but also the support they’ve shown me and my family during a really tough period has just been phenomenal. So no matter what happens, I would love to be the manager of this football club, but if that isn’t to be, they’ll always be special and this club will always be special to me.”

Interviewer: “It’s 105 days until the start of the new season. It sounds like quite a long time, but I guess…”

Clark: “It isn’t. Believe me, it isn’t. And you’re saying 105 days to the start of the new season. but you’re looking at a six week pre-season period where you’ve got to bed in new players, get a new system, get a new mindset, get new standards, get a new belief around the place. So it’s probably, you’re probably looking at five or six weeks. As a manager, I’ve always been greedy. I want to have as many players in the building as possible to do pre-season so you get the plans across both tactically, technically, but most importantly for this club physically. and being robust. That’s what the next group of players at this football club need to be. We need to have that.

“So, yeah, that’s the thing. And that’s how it’s got to be done. But it’s not the… I’ve been involved with pre-season as well. I’ve been speaking to different clubs to line up friendlies and looking at potential training camps, because that’s massive. That’s that creating that team spirit, that bond, but also getting the chance to work hard in a great environment and being each other’s pockets for 24 hours a day and you see the real characters coming out then because you’re spending all that time with them, so yeah, it’s, you know, I’ve got to just deal with that. I can’t officially act as Rotherham United’s manager anymore because I actually aren’t, so that’s way it is.”

🗣️ “At the moment, I’m finished as Rotherham United manager. I would love to continue”

📹 Rotherham United manager Lee Clark on his future, after the Millers’ 3-2 defeat at Wycombe on the final day.

🎧👉 https://t.co/CuAVmzHris#RUFC | @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/2lMU8z1RxJ

— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) May 2, 2026

On the 6th of May, as per Rotherham Advertiser, he was still in the frame for the job, although Rotherham were supposedly in talks with Steve McClaren taking a role ‘upstairs’ role, potentially delaying discussions with Clark, who is keen on returning, but is currently back home with family in Newcastle.

Clark thought they chairman Tony Stewart would keep Clark on, having also prepared, the retained and released lists as well as pre-season plans.

He said to the Advertiser: “I can work with anybody. If the chairman sees fit to lean on Steve’s experience and knowledge and bring him in to try help the club, that’s fine.

“I’ve never, ever believed I know it all and have done it all. You’re always open to working with good people, so let’s see.”

Mat Sadler was one manager Rotherham were reportedly keen on appointing, as were Northampton and Crawley.

Here’s the social media reaction after Hartlepool ‘make a late move’ for manager Lee Clark, ‘left in the dark’ by relegated EFL club…

@SiHufc: I’d rather have Cattermole

@daveflemm: Simon Grayson didn’t get sacked for this, or Featherstone for that matter

@Rathman30: Oh dear oh dear. New owner, same old story. I fear for Hartlepool if this is true

@keithelliott94: Why 🤷‍♂️😏

@anthonystevenh7: Wow here’s me thinking we had a genuine new plan and identity paying bromby and co to find the best not the bottom of the barrel not impressed if true @Official_HUFC

@leazesender_: Fuck me 🤦‍♂️

@Matt_Walker96: Rotherham currently fighting Hartlepool for a manager 😂

@JW_HUFC: Please no

@jordrich97: Excuse my cynicism, but if you’d said Raj was still in charge with these names being banded around, I’d believe you… 😅 #hufc

@Jackomckie15: That’s so underwhelming if he’s given it. Rather take a risk on no experience than give him it 🙈

@jordrich97: Exactly, admittedly I wasn’t overly keen on Cattermole but at least there was a sense of intrigue about how he’d get on. Was happy to give him the benefit of the doubt despite his inexperience, but Clark definitely doesn’t inspire me whatsoever.

@Jackomckie15: 100% agree, the thing about Clark is that he’s had a long layoff albeit managed a handful of games at Rotherham. His managerial career has been on a downward spiral for years. Not pleasing at all 🙈

@HufcxG: Surely this can’t be true…

@HTFCSeb2: This’ll be interesting if it happens. Rotherham in free fall (unless the takeover happens) and it’s nearly impossible to succeed there.

@IsaacHUFC: If it is Clark I’ll obviously back him to the hilt but can’t help but feel underwhelmed, would rather have given Cattermole a chance.

@bristolbluegas: Lee Cattermole doesn’t have much luck, does he! 😬

@Davidjrj123: I’d take cattermole with 0 experience over this.

@miller83862: Get yourself off Lee. Probably be better than staying at this fucking shambles. #rufc

@Jackomckie15: Getting messy this 🙈🤯

@_tombaxter17: Jesus fucking Christ this is the worst name out the lot