Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke has emerged as a surprise contender in the race to take charge of managerless Hartlepool United. The Post understands that the struggling League Two club have placed Clarke on their hortlist after considering him as a possible candidate when the position was vacant in October before opting to appoint Paul Murray to replace Colin Cooper. But Murrayâs six-week tenure came to an end following Friday nightâs FA Cup humiliation at the hands of Blyth Spartans and struggling Hartlepool are now on the hunt for their third manager this season in a bid to beat the drop out of League Two and into the Vanarama Conference. Former Middlesbrough midfielder Craig Hignett remains the bookies favourite to take charge at Victoria Park following a short spell alongside Cooper as assistant last season, while there has also been backing for defender Sam Collins, who has taken charge of the side on a temporary basis in the aftermath of Murrayâs dismissal. Collins is expected to remain in charge for the trip to Burton Albion on Saturday, but former Newcastle United star Nolberto Solano and ex-Scunthorpe United, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley manager Brian Laws also feature prominently in the betting for a position Hartlepool are expected to fill permanently ahead of the busy Christmas period. Clarke, who is under contract at Rovers until the end of the season at least, has not yet been listed with the bookies, but is well-respected among the hierarchy at Victoria Park after playing almost 150 games there as a player over six seasons between 2001 and 2007. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristo...idate-vacant/story-25521731-detail/story.html
I didn't think that The Pools were humiliated, over the ninety minutes they played the far better football and if it wasn't for the 'Frank Lampard' moment they would have run out victorious, felt sorry for Murray, he turned out to be the classic fall guy and who was that bloke up front for the spartans ? a cult figure they kept calling him ? I reckon he may have even given Bob Newton a run for his money when it comes to people who should have never played the game ! Anyway and back to the thread, knowing Rovers if there's any 'compo' involved we will probably all be waving him on his way !!!
Would not be good to lose our manager at this stage to be honest. I hope he stays and sees the job through here. I think he'll be in a much stronger position if he does stay and proves himself over a season or two here. Then he could get a much better club than Hartlepool, that's for sure.
Plus managers usually take a few of the best players with them... Definitely not what we would want. DC is proving himself a good manager when he has been able to bring on his own players and build things up as he wanted to. He struggled when he was trying to manage our dead wood - a similar situation to what he would find himself in at Hartlepool. Hope he stays and sees the job through. I think he's doing a great job and Rovers is a good fit for him...
Leroy Rosenior has had something to say about this! He thinks there is no decision to make. Having rebuilt his squad and guided the Pirates into the play-off positions in the Vanarama Conference, Clarke ought to stay and finish the job he started according to former West Ham, Fulham and Bristol City striker Rosenior. He said: “I don’t know why Darrell Clarke would even consider jumping ship from Bristol Rovers to join Hartlepool as manager. Of course, Darrell used to play for Pools and, as an old boy, has close ties with the club. But as far as I’m concerned, he still has a job to do at the Memorial Stadium. He inherited a difficult situation when John Ward left and the jury was out on whether he could cope. But he has put in an awful lot of hard work and, so far, has done a decent job. Rovers are well-placed to challenge for promotion, he now has a stronger squad than at the start of the season and the club seems to be heading in the right direction after the disappointment of relegation from the Football League. Why would he want to swap that for an uncertain future at Hartlepool? Plenty of managers have tried to make it work up there and failed and there are two very good reasons for that. One is location – Hartlepool is a very long way away and is not the most attractive destination for players. The other is finance. Rovers may have had issues with their budget being cut, but they are far better off than Hartlepool. They are a bigger club, attract bigger crowds and have the potential to go further than Pools. Of course, it is good that people outside of Bristol recognise that Darrel has done a good job at Rovers but, for me, he now has to stay and see the job through.” Nice one Leroy!
DC has spoken!!! Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke says he is “flattered” to be linked with the vacant managerial position at Hartlepool United, but says he is determined to finish the job he has started at the Memorial Stadium. Clarke is one of a number of mangers under consideration to fill the position vacated at Victoria Park following the dismissal of Paul Murray last week. But when asked for his thoughts on the possibility of returning to a club he once spent six successful seasons as a player, he replied: “I had a great time there as a player and I still know a lot of people at that football club. It is always flattering to be linked with any job, but I am very, very happy at Bristol Rovers and I have unfinished business to attend to here so I’d like to nip that one in the bud straight away. The club hit rock bottom at the back end of last season and I want to turn that around and make it right. I’ve put together what I feel is a good squad and I am really enjoying my job at the moment. Results have been a little frustrating of late with too many draws away from home, but our form has been pretty solid. If we can just narrow down that final five or 10 percent at the top end then I believe we will have a great chance of getting promotion back to the Football League at the first time of asking.”
So we have a man who has his team playing for the shirt! And a man who intends staying for the shirt! It's been some time since we last had that combination.
DC seems to be a man of integrity - I never thought he'd jump ship to the Monkey Hangers. Get us back into the League DC!
What, becomes a fat baldee Joe Pasquale soundalike? But seriously, I hope he stays. He's still learning but heading in he right direction and I've no doubt he has passion for Rovers. If we did lose him I'm planning on kidnapping Mad dog to take over.
