There has been a mixed reaction from fans as Hartlepool United confirm their new management team with Lennie Lawrence to continue as boss.
The 76 year old veteran will continue as manager until the end of the 2024/25 season, and will be joined by Anthony Limbrick as head coach, with Gavin Skelton and Nicky Featherstone as first-team coaches.
The club currently sit 15th in the National League, with 21 points from 16 games played, four points from the playoff places. They get set for a trip to York City this weekend.
It was three weeks ago when Hartlepool sacked Darren Sarll from his duties after just 15 games in charge, having only been appointed in April when the club decided not to extend Kevin Phillips’ contract.
But Sarll’s final game in charge was a 3-1 FA Cup fourth qualifying-round replay defeat at National League North Brackley with Pools also sitting 16th in the National League at the time.
đź—ž Hartlepool United are delighted to confirm Lennie Lawrence will continue as manager until the end of the season.
He will be joined by Anthony Limbrick as head coach, with Gavin Skelton and Nicky Featherstone as first-team coaches.
— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) November 7, 2024
CLUB STATEMENT:
Hartlepool United are delighted to confirm the Club’s new management team with immediate effect.
Lennie Lawrence will continue as Pools manager until the end of the season, building on his most recent unbeaten caretaker run. With over 1000 games under his belt, Lawrence holds an incredible amount of experience in the game having managed the likes of Charlton, Middlesbrough and Cardiff as well holding consultancy and coach mentor positions at the highest levels.
Anthony Limbrick joins the Club as our new Head Coach, leaving his current coaching role at League One Peterborough United. Australian born, Limbrick has extensive experience with both academy player development and first team environments. He formerly managed and worked with Woking in the national league as well Grimsby Town in the Football League and he won the Cymru Premier and Welsh Cup in 2022 with The New Saints.
Gavin Skelton also joins the Club as first-team coach, having spent the last five years as assistant manager at Carlisle United. He played a critical role in helping the Cumbrians gain promotion into League One through the play-offs in 2023 beating Stockport County. A former player with over 450 personal playing appearances to his name, Skelton has also managed Workington and Queen of the South earlier in his career.
Pools stalwart Nicky Featherstone will continue with his dual role as both first-team player and supplementary coaching/player leadership duties.
The management team will continue to be supported by goalkeeping coach Adam Smith, Carl Dickinson whose expertise is in strength & conditioning, first-team analyst Ben Daniel and Chief Scout Ronnie Moore.
Hartlepool United Board spokesperson commented:
“We are really pleased to confirm our new management team following an extensive review and process.
“Lennie has an incredible track record in management as well as with his mentorship roles of coaches and managers. He’s also proven on multiple caretaker occasions at Hartlepool United his ability and desire to step up and hold the manager position, which has been evident in his recent results and a reformed style of play.
“As Board we were keen to see the trajectory and senior stewardship under Lennie continue, and with Anthony and Gavin we have also secured two outstanding pro licence technical coaches who are highly regarded within the game. We believe their complementary attributes and desire to step up in due course will fit well with Lennie, to give the Club both the best opportunity in the immediate short term this season whilst also planning longer term.
“Additionally we are looking longer term with the likes of Nicky Featherstone and supporting his development beyond playing career, and the full complement of first team support staff including medical, strength & conditioning, scouting and analysis will also remain at the management teams’ disposal.”
Manager Lennie Lawrence added:
“It’s been a very thorough and professional process that the Board has conducted, and it’s a decision we’re very excited about. A lot went into it and one of the priorities was a long-term plan, and the idea is to offer my experience where possible to develop the rest of the team. We now have a lot of depth within our coaching staff and each member holds different qualities which we’ll be able to lean on during the course of the season.”
As mentioned, there has been mixed reaction from fans as Hartlepool United confirm their new management team…
@footydevotion: Random even by Pools standards. Not against trying something different I guess, the last few ‘safe’ managerial appointments have not worked out. It will either be a masterstroke or a disaster, no in-between. This squad with 1 or 2 additions should be top 7!
@adam_garrington: Knew it’ll happen! Cheap option
@BriLeeStokle: Best of luck fellas. Very optimistic after the last 3 games since Lennies been in charge, now looking forward to Saturday. UTP🔵⚪️
@HGutridge: Good luck, record so far in charge has been class long may it continue
@mickyga78: Good luck to Lennie and the new lads. Let’s hope we can continue the unbeaten run on Saturday. #NSD
@benmcmorris03: I’m fairly sure he is now the oldest manager in world football
@JackgHUFC: yes this may be the “cheap option” but fuck me, give the lads a chance ffs…lennie has steadied the ship , dunno why people are complaining
@BLewis2023: This club is a fucking joke
@tommy_white111: Seems uninspiring but it’s about time we did things different cos what we’ve done previously hasn’t worked. Got to get behind them, if we don’t the only ones who suffer are the players and therefore us fans. Announce Lennie fistbumps in front of a soldout away end on Saturday🤩
@MattyGrocott_: Same with every management team, I’ll judge on performance and results. Not arsed about “cheap options” or whatever. I want my team to win. If this works, brilliant. If it doesn’t, back to the drawing board. Let’s see what happens Saturday 🤞
@MbwLdurham: This club is a joke, took near 3 weeks to come up with this, give me a break.
@richyhpool: I read this as Limbrick is probably in charge of the team but lennie will take the flack if its not working. If it does seem to work then he takes over in the summer. Fingers crossed it does work
@wanchop33: Lenny from the board has decided after an extensive process to give the job to… himself
@PoolieKev: Not the appointment I personally think we needed. But happily be proven wrong and will get my full support. Uncertainty out the way now let’s push on 🔵⚪️
@Poolieboy1Les1: Keeping Lennie in charge until the end of the season is probably the best option. Lennie has steadied the ship, and the team is now showing their potential. It would be stupid to bring someone new in and upset the apple cart with his own ideas. So let’s get behind, Lennie. UTP
@anthonystevenh7: Well a mean I like Lennie but he wouldn’t of been my choice however he is a steady bloke I would of said till new year if right person wasn’t there but atleast we have more coaches now which could help but come end of season be ambitious and get murty or someone not within club
@paulkeay: Jesus Christ. What a laughing stock this club has become. Raj Singh, get out and as far away as possible.
@durhamchris1983: Translates to “many have turned the job down as they wouldn’t have full control, so a board member has appointed himself because he wants full control”.
@joolsHUFC: Play off final incoming
@LJD1989: He be in one of Rajs care homes by February
@PaulVarney1991: I hoped lennie lawrence would remain until the end of the season
@oafc24: Give the bloke a break 🤣
@DJHustler1985: Good luck to him. Might as well! All other managers worth looking at are taken!
@michaelbratt2: Look forward as a club and supporters need to buy into this #nsd
@northeastste: Very bizarre, to have a manager and a head coach both in situ at the same time, as usually it’s one or the other. Good luck to all nonetheless.
@LUKE24Y: Good luck to him he’s steadied the ship, players clearly want to play for him, welcome to the new coaches 👍
— Douggy (@1908pools) November 7, 2024
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