Nicky Featherstone speaks after Hartlepool appoint him as their new permanent manager having impressed while in interim charge.
The 37 year old has signed a deal until the end of the 2025/26 season, winning four of his eight games after taking over from Simon Grayson.
Featherstone’s guided Hartlepool up to 8th in the National League, one place and two points outside the playoff places.
CLUB STATEMENT:
Hartlepool United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Nicky Featherstone as the Club’s permanent manager, following a highly impressive period in interim charge.
Featherstone has overseen a significant upturn in performances and results since stepping into the dugout in October.
Working alongside Elliott Dickman and Adam Smith, who will both remain part of the First Team coaching staff, he has guided Pools to a seven-match unbeaten run in the Enterprise National League, recording four wins and three draws.
During that spell, he brought renewed confidence to the squad. His appointment represents an important step in the Club’s football strategy and reflects the direction being shaped across the First Team and football operations.
Featherstone will take charge of Pools until the end of the season, with a Club option to extend following a review of performance.
The former midfielder has been held as a Club legend with more than 450 appearances across an 11-year spell at the Prestige Group Stadium, which saw promotion to the EFL in 2021.
Nicky Featherstone, Manager, said: “It is a tremendous honour to be appointed manager of this football club. Pools means a huge amount to me. I care deeply about this Club, about the people here and about what it represents.
“During my interim period in charge, the players and staff have been first class and the supporters have backed us brilliantly as we tried to steady things and build some momentum. Their support has made a massive difference and I can’t thank them enough.
“As a staff and as a group, we want to keep pushing on. We want to build something the town can be proud of. If we keep our standards high and continue improving, we can give ourselves every chance of having a strong season while also putting firm foundations in place for the longer term.”
Joe Monks, Head of Football Operations, said: “We conducted a thorough process and spoke to a wide range of candidates from the English football pyramid including experienced EFL managers but Nicky’s leadership and understanding of the Club made him the standout choice.
“Since taking over on an interim basis he has worked hard to create a clear identity of how he wants the team to play. His influence can be seen within the playing squad, as well as the uplift in results.
“Nicky is a Club legend with a genuine connection to our supporters. Alongside Elliott the coaching standards have been very positive at Maiden Castle. We are confident he is the right person to lead the next phase of our football development and take this team forward in a way that reflects the ambition of the Club and its supporters.”
Interviewer: How does it feel to have been appointed Hartlepool manager?
Nicky: Brilliant, a bit surreal. It all happened very quickly. I had a conversation with the chairman and some of the board members on Tuesday. Everything happened very quickly from then on. We started the contract very easily and quickly. And here we are today, signing the deal. A bit surreal, but buzzing. This is where the hard work starts. And I hope we have a good, positive finish to the second half of the season.
Interviewer: When you arrived, you had a bit of a task on your hands. Looking back, how do you kill the start of your career?
Nicky: Tough. I didn’t know what I got myself into after that Gainsborough game. But I think that, slowly, with the weeks and the matches, the performances have got better. You can see from the results and the performances that something is taking place now. I was brought in when I was in a bad situation. The boys have little confidence. They’re in a much better place now.
Interviewer: Looking back, when you started, was there a bit of reassurance involved in stepping into that role, knowing you had the support and encouragement of others?
Nicky: Yes, absolutely. They’ve been brilliant to me since I taken this role. They’ve been a massive help to me and the players. Like I keep saying, they don’t know the effect they have on the guys, and on me personally. Brilliant supporter as always from them theirs. I hope that now, I, we, and everyone at the club can give them something positive in the second half of the season.
Interviewer: One word that’s used a lot in football is mentality. How do you assess the change in the club’s mentality?
Nicky: They’re very good lads and have always tried their best throughout the season. I don’t think it’s just a mentality thing. I think they were in a bad place, confidence wise, because of the results. Me and Elliott ave come in picked up training around the place. We’ve implemented a couple of things we want to see in matches, and we’ve started to see it happen week after week. I think that builds a lot of confidence.
Interviewer: How have Elliot and the rest of the coaching staff have been?
Nicky: Brilliant. Elliot has been a great help to me. He’s my day-to-day coach. I manage the group and the players. Elliot is a top top coach. He has a lot of experience, both at mens and the academy. He understands the modern day coaching. I think it’s been great for me. As for the rest of the team, Danny is great. He’s good at his job, too. He’s great for morale and keeps the place happy and lively. Smudge, who’s been brilliant. This is his first time role. He’s stepped up. With Jake and Sam, the analysts, we have a good dynamic at the moment.
Interviewer: Has talking to a manager about a player given you a good understanding of your players?
Nicky: Yes. I’ve played with a lot of them. Not so much this season, but the guys who were here last year, I played with many of them. Getting to know their personalities and their qualities are within the game has been a massive help to me.
Interviewer: They’ve been very vocal to bring hard work and positivity to the place. It should be very rewarding to listen to them.
Nicky: Yes, brilliant to hear. Elliot and I are really happy to have the guys here. For us, hearing them and seeing them in the interviews is huge. But all we do is put on a good training session, set demands, implement our game plans, and we give them the platform to do so. The boys have come a long way.
Interviewer: You’ve taken over the club before, so you know how much it takes to run it.
Nicky: Yes. Exactly. I’ve been captain. I know exactly what it takes to lead the club to success. I know their struggle. I know exactly what it takes to be a leader at this place. It won’t always be easy, but we’re moving in the right direction. There’s a lot to be excited about.
Interviewer: And you’ve said many times before how much this club means to you. It must have made you want to fight even harder in this role.
Nicky: Yes, there’s a massive affiliation with the club. I’ve been here 11 years. In various roles now. Every decision I make, or that we make or staff, is the best decision for the football club, not for me personally. Every decision I make, even if I don’t get it right, is based on what’s best for the club. Having that love, that affiliation helps massively to make those decisions and go the extra mile to do what we can to be successful.
Interviewer: It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since the summer. You had your testimony in July, now in the hot seat but you’re taking it all in your stride.
Nicky: Yes. I knew I wouldn’t play that much this season, obviously. I’m 37 now, with the testimonial happening and all that. But yeah, I never expected to be here now. I take it for what it is. I never go too high, I never go too low. We do everything we can. When we were asked to lead the club interim role, we obviously did a good job of getting the job done personally.
Interviewer: Something else you’ve said in several interviews is that you believe this team has what it takes to compete. Now it’s a matter of continuing with that and showcasing that for you.
Nicky: Yes, we have a lot of quality in the team. Our defensive record is among the best in this league. We just need to add a couple of goals to our game. But yes, there are many qualities throughout the squad, not just in the starting eleven. As you saw on Saturday against Truro, the game slipping from us slightly, we make a couple subs. Yes, this is a team that should be fighting where we are right now. What we need to do is find a level of consistency in performance, which will then translate into results. If we get that right, we can push for the playoffs.
This is how fans reacted while Nicky Featherstone speaks after Hartlepool make the decision to appoint him as their new permanent manager…
@HufcxG: Delighted for him. Please don’t shaft him at the end of the season, a mid table finish should be enough for the extension.
@JackHUFCC: fucking LOVEEE that, fans want him, players want him…. perfect scenario 😍
@Davidjrj123: Until the end of the season with a performance review to look forward to. Giving a club legend the Kevin Phillips treatment instead of the respect and contract he’s deservedly earned
@ThePoolsPod: If he takes us up while he’s gaffer, he should get a statue. Nicky Featherstone’s blue and white army! 🔵⚪️
@anthonystevenh7: Well done Nicky deserves his chance , why change something when it’s not broken but please give him time and a chance not when it gets tough just sack treat him with the respect he deserves he’s a club legend and the players are behind him
@JayNich47098520: I hope Nicky is actually given a chance and the club don’t get rid of him at the first opportunity. He’s deserves better than the way some of our previous managers have been treat
@MattyGrocott_: We aren’t the finished article but in fairness, a few players have shown a much improved form with him steering us so can’t fault that at all. Imagine they appointed someone and we fell off a cliff. I understand the club’s decision and hope he has a successful time in charge 🐐
@JWheelhouse_01:
Someone who loves the club ✅
Someone who the players want to play for ✅
Club legend ✅
Completely the right decision to give him it until the end of the season and he’s one of the good things about our club just now… Nicky Feaths Blue & White Army 💙
@anthskinner: Would of preferred him under a better regime, can see him getting fu**ed over unfortunately, but he was the obvious appointment with current form and the players wanting him and actually playing for him
@sharkbaitohlala: Best man for the job. Knows the club inside out and 7 unbeaten in his interim role
