Pools season ends in stalemate ... now the hard work starts

If you had a magic wand and had been able to promise Hartlepool United fans that they would finish their League One season a point behind Sheffield Wednesday an two behind Charlton, they would have snatched your hand off. But they've done it comfortably - and that makes a change.

Compared to one or two others seasons – like a year ago, for instance – it is a major improvement, and now it seems the club is determined to improve further.

Mick Wadsworth appears to have been given a sort of green-ish light to strengthen the squad (we have to guess at this, because the club is saying little … again), while there’s an offer of season tickets for 2011-12 for £100.

Before you buy, read the small print (they have to sell 4,000 before that price is activated, and this season’s average gate was below that), but it’s a gesture and it’s an idea that’s worth trying in an effort to drum up more support, and more money.

Let’s face it, 4,000 people paying next to nowt to watch games is better than next to nobody paying nowt at all because they stay away.

Finishing the season with a goalless draw at Charlton is not a bad way to sign off, though in a typical end-of-season game with little at stake for either team, it was hardly a classic. How Charlton had the nerve to do a post-match lap of honour after their under-achievement (they are a "big" club, after all) is incredible.

As you would expect of the home team, Charlton had most of the possession, but Pools stuck in well and created chances of their own, including a Sam Collins effort that smacked against the woodwork.

Charlton went just as close themselves, but a point wasn’t a bad reward for Pools and they can head off on their summer break feeling that while they hardly set league One alight, they didn’t show themselves up either, apart from in the occasional home fiasco.

But, as always after the last game of a season, there are a few thoughts to keep us going over the summer.

Like where would they have finished if the three Bs – Brown, Boyd and Behan – had hit the form many had expected from them this season?

But, again as usual, it’s a question nobody can answer for sure.