The top six favourites to become next Hartlepool United manager has been revealed as departed boss Dave Challinor speaks out on leaving.
The 46 year old has been officially confirmed as the new manager of Stockport County capping off a turbulent 48 hours for the Pools.
Challinor, has put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year deal at Edgeley Park officially bringing an end to his near two year stay at the League Two newcomers just months after guiding Hartlepool to promotion.
The saga began publically over the weekend as speculation grew with odds on Challinor shortening on him taking the job.
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The former Stockport defender then told the Pools hierarchy of his desire to leave the club on Monday afternoon. It’s understood a deal had all but been done and the appointment has been officially unveiled just over a day later.
Speaking shortly after his appointment, Challinor said: “It’s been ridiculously difficult.
“Once the interest came in, there’s obviously always going to be an attraction but the affinity I built with the fanbase there was amazing and that was the biggest tie I had to really get over.
“When you take emotion out of it, this move became a no brainer. It ticks so many boxes and hopefully it will prove to be the right decision. I really think it will.”
Challinor takes over Stockport County who sit 9th in the National League whilst leaving Pools in 10th in League Two.
“The chance to return to County and help make club history was too good an opportunity to miss.” Challinor said.
“The excitement surrounding the club and the investment that has been put into it, on and off the pitch, makes County an incredibly attractive proposition for any manager. This can be seen by the influx of new talent the club has recruited over the last month, with the likes of Robert Elstone and Bolton Wanderer’s Antoni Sarcevic joining.
“Now is the time to capitalise on this and take the fans on the journey they deserve, making Stockport County a force to be reckoned with and getting back to the Football League. I look forward to being re-united with County fans on Sunday.”
Antony Sweeney is currently in interim charge of Pools and led the side to a 1-0 win over Everton Under-21’s in the Papa Johns Trophy – booking a place into the round of 32.
The League Two outfit have already begun the process of searching for the right man to take over the manager’s role. However, it’s understood that Pools will take their time in their search meaning that Sweeney is likely to be in interim charge for a number of games.
So who are the top six favourites to become new Hartlepool boss? Take a look below…
6) Chris Agutter – 12/1
On the 1st of November, Hastings United confirmed Chris Agutter has handed in his resignation from the role of First Team Manager.
Chris, who joined the club in 2017 initially as Assistant Manager went on to be appointed First Team Manager following the departure of Adam Hinshelwood.
Hastings’ CEO/Chairman, Billy Wood, said: “Chris approached me Sunday for a meeting and when we met Sunday night he offered his immediate resignation from the role with the feeling he wants a new challenge, a challenge he doesn’t think the job at Hastings United offers anymore. Whilst shocked and saddened by his decision the club respects his position and have stood him down from his management duties. Chris has been a fantastic manager in his time in the role and I am proud of our record over the past three seasons.
Hastings United currently sit 7th in the Isthmian League – South East Division, picking up 19 points from 9 games played, a won 4-1 against Whitstable Town on Tuesday, with his last game in charge ending in a 3-1 defeat at home to Ashford United.
5) Andy Woodman – 12/1
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper coach Andy Woodman is a candidate for the vacant Hartlepool United job.
Woodman has been linked with EFL jobs at the likes of Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth this season after working miracles with National League side Bromley.
After losing to Pools in last season’s National League play-offs, Woodman has battled on with next to no budget and blooding youngsters for the Ravens.
Bromley earned a 2-0 win at Woking on Tuesday night, with the Ravens sitting 4th with 27 points from 13 games.
Woodman worked at Arsenal’s Academy before taking on the job at Bromley and his performance as boss has caught the eye of EFL chairmen.
Speaking about his work at Bromley recently Woodman said: “I keep saying I don’t want to just make up the numbers.
“I never wanted to do that as a player or a coach, and now not as a manager.”
Woodman was part of Newcastle’s back-room team when the club finished fifth and qualified for Europe nine years ago.
As a player, his highest achievement was playing for Northampton Town when they won the Division Three play-offs in 1997. He’s also played for Crystal Palace, Exeter, Brentford, Peterborough, Southend, Colchester, Oxford, Stevenage and numerous non league sides.
4) Kevin Rutkiewicz – 10/1
Kevin Rutkiewicz is a Scottish professional football player and coach, who is currently the manager of Scottish League Two club Stirling Albion. Ruthkiewicz played as a defender for Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton, East Fife and American club Carolina RailHawks.
After a stint as player/assistant manager at Annan Athletic, Rutkiewicz was appointed Stirling Albion manager in October 2018.
Of the 108 games in charge, he’s won 43, drawn 25 and lost 40, giving him a win percentage of 39.81.
He recently won the Scottish League Two Manager of the Month Award for September and his side are unbeaten in seven, sitting 2nd in the division with 21 points from 11 games played.
3) Clint Hill – 10/1
Clint Hill is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently the assistant manager of Hartlepool United.
Hill began his career with local side Tranmere Rovers in 1997. He broke into the first team and became a regular as Rovers reached the League Cup final in 2000. Hill was sent-off however as Tranmere lost 2–1. He remained at Prenton Park until 2002 when he joined Oldham Athletic and after impressing there he was signed by Championship side Stoke City. His first season with Stoke was cut down due to injuries which hampered his time at the club. He left for Crystal Palace after making 84 appearances for Stoke in five years.
At Palace he played well despite the club struggling financially and when manager Neil Warnock joined QPR, Hill followed him in July 2010. In his first season at Loftus Road QPR won the Championship and gained promotion to the Premier League. They went on to ensure survival on the final day of the season, Hill winning the supporters player of the year award for his performances this despite playing 25 matches and also spending a short time on loan at Nottingham Forest.
On the 21st of May 2018, he was appointed as joint First Team Coach at Fleetwood Town alongside former Rochdale manager Steve Eyre.
Hill left Fleetwood in January 2021 when then manager Joey Barton was relieved of his duties. On the 22nd of February, he followed Barton and Andy Mangan to join Bristol Rovers. On the 14th of August 2021, following a 2–0 home defeat to Stevenage, it was announced that Hill had left the club due to personal family reasons.
In October 2021, Hill was appointed assistant manager at League Two club Hartlepool United.
HONOURS AS A PLAYER:
Club
- Tranmere Rovers
– Football League Cup Runner-up: 1999–2000
- Queens Park Rangers
– Football League Championship: 2010–11
– Football League Championship play-offs final: 2013–14
Individual
– John Greig Achievement Award (Rangers FC): 2016–17
2) Antony Sweeney
Antony Sweeney is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He was thrust into interim charge after confirmation Dave Challinor would be leaving to join National League club Stockport County. The move was announced by The Hatters just before Pools’ match reached half time of the Papa John’s Trophy win at home to Everton under 21s.
For Sweeney, who previously had a spell as caretaker before Challinor’s appointment at Pools two years ago, it’s just about steadying the ship while the club looks to make a new appointment.
“It’s been a difficult 48 hours for everyone but the club moves on,” Sweeney said. “It’s a knockout competition and it’s money in the pot so it’s important we got the win.
“I’d built up a great relationship with Dave so to see him leave the club is disappointing for me personally but also for the football club as a whole because of the job he’s done.
“It’s always sad and we expected it to come at some time just not as soon as it was.
“I’d been made aware of the approach which had gone to the club but that’s as far as I knew.
“There was a back and forth in the training session [on Monday] then I got a call in the evening to meet the chairman [Raj Singh] and take the reins in the short term.
“It’s the same remit as last time. I’m here to do the job as long as I’m needed but I think this appointment is probably more important than the last one to be honest because we’ve got a lot more to lose as a Football League side.”
On the match itself, Sweeney added: “I thought we grew into the game a little bit.
“I won’t take credit for the team because we discussed the team while Dave was still here but the subs had a massive impact.
“The subs are there to impact the game and that’s exactly what they did.”
1) Ross Turnbull
Ross Turnbull is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Between 2002 and 2015 he made 148 league appearances for a number of clubs, notably Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Crewe Alexandra and Doncaster Rovers. He is a former England U19 international.
After leaving as a player, Turnbull took up a position with Leeds to become their opposition keeper analyst. He left a year later, in 2017, to take up a similar role with Chelsea.
In March 2018, Turnbull joined the coaching staff at Hartlepool United initially as a voluntary goalkeeper coach. Following the appointment of Matthew Bates as first-team manager in May 2018, Turnbull’s position became a full-time paid role. At the end of the 2020/21 season, following the club’s promotion, Turnbull left the club to take up a scouting role with his former club Chelsea.
Journalist Paul Fraser stated on Wednesday morning regarding the Hartlepool speculation: “By the way, the favourite Ross Turnbull is not interested in the job! He was merely at the Vic last night to support Sweeney and Pools. He’s been to numerous games this season since leaving.”
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