Lay off, Hughes tells the boo boys

New Hartlepool United boss John Hughes, determined to put a positive spin on things at Victoria Park, is beginning to show signs of impatience ... with some of the fans.

He has asked supporters to lay off booing players, and in particular midfielder Simon Walton.

He was booed by some fans when he was sent on as a sub during last weekend’s home defeat at the hands of Stevenage, and Hughes is struggling to understand why.

With a 27-point difference and the season not even half over, it goes without saying that Pools go to MK Dons as second favourites this weekend, stranded as they are at the foot of the League One table, while the Dons are in the promotion frame with a top home record.

But Hughes is more concerned with the relationship between the fans and the team.

He told the Mail: “I don’t know if the supporters were booing him or my substitution. Let’s say it was the latter.

“If not, try to cheer him and let me boo him if needs be.”

“I thought he came on and slotted in the midfield role deep and never gave the ball away.

“He has a part to play and has worked very hard in the weeks he’s had off with injury and he is a real good footballer.

“Simon’s got a big part to play. I’m going to have to sit him down and tell him that.

“He can play that quarterback role for us, sitting and protecting the two centre-backs and making play.

“He’s good on the ball and he can pass it.”

Pools fans haven’t taken to Walton since his summer switch from Plymouth, and there are sections of the home crowd who make their feelings clear at all times.

But Hughes had perhaps better get used to the boo boys … the team he has inherited are bottom of the table for a reason: they are not good enough.

And while they are losing home games they will be booed, though the constant targeting of Walton is unfair.

The last things Pools need is a fall-out with the fans, and while Hughes is right to ask why Walton was booed before he had even kicked a ball, he should know that fans of losing teams are not the most reasonable of people.

If the boss can bring about a revival, even if it fails to achieve anything, the boos will stop.