Pools are safe - unless there's more punishment to come
CT - emotional
By Charlie Summerbell
May 9 2010
All it needs now is for the Football League to decide that Hartlepool United’s appeal against their three-point deduction is frivolous and take another point off them. Let’s face it, something similar has happoened before and it would be a typical outcome for Pools, who never seem able to end a season without too many alarms for the fans.
But that is an unlikely postscript to the campaign – we hope.
Their goalless draw at Brentford was enough – just enough – to clinch League One safety after being docked those three points for fielding Gary Liddle when he should have been suspended.
Gillingham came up on the rails by managing to be hammered at relegated Wycombe and with both Exeter and Tranmere winning to overhaul Pools, it was goal difference that told in the end, as we predicted it might a couple of weeks ago.
Pools finish fifth bottom after another far-too-worrying end to the season, and that means they have now survived a record-breaking four seasons in League One.
Not a bad achievement for a small club, but not the best way to end a season for the nerves of the fans.
Boss Chris Turner praised his players for their workmanlike performance and said that he felt the club deserves to be in League One.
In his post-match interview he failed to keep his emotions in check and struggled to hold back tears as he told the Northern Echo: “I was ashamed to be involved in football this week after what the FA did, but the character and determination of my players has restored my faith in my side and the game.
“They reacted so professionally to what went on and from staring relegation in the face, they dug in here to earn a point.”
Turner clearly feels wronged by the football authorities for the punishment the club has been handed, but what else could they do?
The Pools team against Brighton included a player who should not have been playing, and they won. How else could they be punished other than by having three points taken off them?
Pools claim that part of the fault lies with the League and the FA, but surely it is the club’s and the player’s responsibility to ensure that such things don’t happen.
All’s well that ends well, and the appeal now becomes rather academic, though Pools will claim that as principle is involved.
They got the result they needed and Gillingham, whose manager made the most noise about Pools deserving their punishment, are down.
But let’s just keep everything crossed that the way Pools have reacted to their punishment and the appeal they have made does not prompt some jobsworth somewhere to decide they should be punished further.
Then a decision needs to be made on whether Chris Turner continues as boss – but our guess is that the decision has already been made and he will be in charge next season.
His conduct after the Brentford game suggests he cares, and in a game littered with mercenaries at all levels, that is not a bad start.