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Hartlepool United Supporters’ Trust hits back as owner Raj Singh launches popularity vote

Hartlepool United Supporters’ Trust hits back as owner Raj Singh launches a popularity vote over potentially staying on at the club.

HUST has strongly opposed owner Raj Singh’s call for a season ticket holder vote on whether he should return as chairman or continue funding the National League side.

They have called the vote “unnecessary, unjustified, and lacking transparency,” arguing it presents “no real choice” for fans, as a vote for Singh could halt a potential takeover, while a vote against risks leaving the club without funding.

The trust’s also noted that not all season ticket holders received the club’s email about the vote, which was set with a deadline of midnight on May 23rd, 2025.

Their stance reflects broader fan frustration, highlighted by Jeff Stelling’s resignation as club president in protest of Singh’s handling of stalled takeover talks.

Fans and commentators, including on social media, have expressed concerns over the vote’s fairness, with some questioning the impartiality of vote counting due to the board’s ties to Singh.

Club Owner Raj Singh has provided the following comment in relation to the Club statement of yesterday (Wednesday 21st):

“First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has sent me messages of thanks and good wishes for the work that has gone on over the past seven years.”

“As everyone connected to the Club knows I made the decision to step aside in early March in response to some of the fan base wishes for a change of ownership.”

“My thought process was that we were virtually safe in the league, I would fund the Club until the end of the season and there would be ample time for any new owner to come in at the end of April or early May to hit the ground running for the new season.”

“Since then, the chain of events has been well documented and categorically at this time there is no party in a position with funds to immediately take over the Club. That is not for a lack of trying and there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes that people just don’t see.”

“In the absence of a takeover at this point a significant number of people have asked me to reconsider my decision and to step in to support the Club.”

“I think it is only right that I do so if supporters on the whole want me to, and I feel I must respect the wishes of the supporters. As such I have suggested to the Board that they formally get supporter feedback.”

“I feel I must make my position clear that this was not planned, as some people will now regrettably insinuate. I have not attended any games since I stepped down and I was getting used to life after HUFC in all honesty.”

“In this situation I am simply trying to help ensure that Hartlepool United continues to exist and it remains an attractive proposition to prospective investors, without undoing all of the work that has gone in over the past 7 years.”

“If a new owner had been in the position to progress with funds in place we would not be in this position, so it could not possibly have been planned on my part. I have been fully committed to moving on but I cannot control what position other parties are in and their ability to raise or secure funds to progress.”

Raj Singh

And now the Hartlepool United Supporters’ Trust (HUST) tweeted: “The vote is unnecessary, divisive and makes a laughing stock of our club. Don’t vote or vote no. No to Raj’s vote.

“The vote is unnecessary, unjustified and lacks transparency.

“Not all season ticket holders have received an email to vote; even within families some have received emails while others haven’t.

“There is no real choice on offer.

“The club should focus on completing the takeover and stop the flawed vote.

“Only fans who bought a season ticket for the last two years can vote. This excludes:

• Fans and families who struggle financially to buy season tickets

• Exiled fans around the country

• Fans who don’t have a season ticket because they work variable shifts

• Those suffering ill-health who can’t get to every game

• Supporters like the South East Poolies who do so much fundraising and passionately support Pools at away games

“The vote is unfair, undemocratic and needs to stop.

“Focus on doing a deal that is in the best interest of the club, fans and Mr. Singh himself.”

Jeff Stelling steps down as president of Hartlepool United “in protest” with club ‘deep into crisis’

Twitter users gave their thoughts as the Hartlepool United Supporters’ Trust hits back after owner Raj Singh launches a popularity vote…

@JBHUFC: Time to call his bluff he’ll lose a hell of a lot more money if he pulls the plug and we go under than simply funding the club until a buyer completes a takeover! We have no assets anywhere near the value for him to strip!

@cjranson: “Come to me on bended knee and beg for my forgiveness”… Nah you’re ok Raj.

@jordrich97: Surely Raj is aware these are going out into the public domain and wider audience? Not so sure he’s doing himself any favours – and to think he wanted to improve his reputation in football.

@mikewaggott: I’ve said it before Raj stepped in when no one else would, he has over seen some of the best seasons we have had recently, but the man’s ego is out of control, we lost one of the best managers we have ever had and appointed some of the worst. He hates anyone that has a good …

@JWheelhouse_01: Taking the fans for mugs once again, no surprise there… Surely it should be voted for by the WHOLE fanbase? For example, people who live nowhere near Hartlepool and have supported the club for years can’t have a say about the future of THEIR club because they don’t have a ST 🤷‍♂️

@Davidjrj123: Who’s counting the votes? Is it going to an independent regulator or one of your little mates who sends you these fictional messages? Can your ego take categorically being told to fuck right off?

@ScottThompson87: I’m sorry but as an owner he has a duty to put money into the club. It was his decision to stop paying and now wants the fans to beg him to do what he should be doing in the first place.

@mickyc1993: Treating the fans like idiots, treating the potential new owners with disrespect and running the club like it’s a comedy club. This is why the club is failing. Complete failure off the pitch. No wonder the club is in the position it is.

@andygib263: Welcome to the Raj show

@JackCBCx: This is getting beyond pathetic. A shambles of a business being ran

@adampinder0711: Just go raj rather have no club than put up with another season of you

@anthonystevenh7: What a complete circus this is wow

@DavidOsb94: Yesterday’s statement rightly pointed out that this affects people’s livelihoods, but clearly, Raj cares less about this. Stop playing games, show some respect to your employees, and fund the business you own until a time that a takeover goes through

@1908pools: It’s in the junk mail an all 😂

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