Relegation was looking a foregone conclusin from very early on in the season. Indeed, the warning signs were there when the club lost 5-0 to Crewe in the first round of the Capital One Cup in the very first game of the season. Neale Cooper did not last long after the start of the season where points were at a severe premium and it was soon apparent that the Pools would be playing League Two football in 2013/14. Veteran striker Steve Howard was signed in the summer and there were high hopes, but although many of the existing squad (Ritchie Humphreys, James Poole, Evan Horwood, Peter Hartley, Andy Monkhouse etc) were still at the club, much of the team was badly lacking. So Cooper left, and none other than Sven Goran Eriksson declared his interest in the job, but the board seemed to have quite a lot of faith in Scotsman John Hughes to take over instead. Progress was very slow, and results remained very poor until they pulled off a massive shock winning at then leaders Sheffield United when a win in that match seemed inconceivable. After that everyone associated with Hartlepool United must have been pulling their hair out! Despite a very good run in February which earned John Hughes the League One manager of the month award, Hartlepool began to accept their impending fate as any realistic hopes of avoiding the drop after that good run were soon dispelled. It was a winless run to end a season of very few positives. Clutching at straws Hartlepool look like they have a decent player in youngster Luke James, but in all honesty, there wasn't much to shout about. In the end it was achievement to finish on the points tally they had given they were woeful for a large percentage of the season, which is why I'm surprised Hughes was dismissed at the end of the season, as I thought that the board would have trusted him in League Two. A few years ago, the fans wanted Chris Turner to leave. Be careful what you wish for.
