“Its a long-term project” – Nicky Featherstone’s thoughts as Hartlepool United see off Gateshead in grudge match

A delighted Featherstone said his side ‘Reacted well to the occasion’ in their comeback 2-1 win over their North-East counterparts.

Featherstone was quick to praise the “Fantastic” fans who were to key to getting his side “across the line” against a stubborn ten-men side.

The Hull born coach added: “Theres expectations from the fans in these sorts of games, against a side who have lost a lot of games, and who’re bottom of table. We didn’t play great in the first half, thats a slight issue thats occurring but they responded well at half time.

“We’ve got to find a way at home and we have at the minute. The last two performances haven’t been great and its probably not sustainable to go and win games playing like we have, but its a massive credit to the character of the lads, and to go and find a winner for both games is a testament to the group.”

Three games into the Landon Smith era, Featherstone explained his current footing with the new regime: “As footballers or football staff, you just get on with your role, this will have an effect on the club longer term rather than the immediate future.

“It’s been chaotic for him (Smith), I can imagine It was a bit overwhelming for him with everything going on, all of a sudden he’s an owner of an English football club. This week’s more of an introduction to everyone and theres a lot of people to see, a lot of things to do, but he’s managed to get round the lads and speak to them individually.”

Speaking short term on the club, Featherstone said: “I don’t think he’s coming in with an open chequebook and saying ‘sign who you want, we want to get promoted this season’ theres a bigger picture at Hartlepool.

“He sees the club in a sustainable position in the long-term rather than investing loads of money, the commercial ideas around the place I think is where his qualities will come in, he’ll probably have a few football men in to help him on that side.”

Speaking on transfers, with recent news of Gavan Holohan reportedly gaining interest from the National league side, post match Featherstone confirmed to BBC Tees he has “spoke with Gav(an)” saying: “We’re not very close on that, he’s the type of profile we want to bring in, EFL pedigree, he knows the football club, he knows the area, but he’s got real qualities going forward. If it’s not Gavan that we get, it’s players like him.”

Matty Daly combined with Alex Reid to cancel out Louis Storey’s early opener, Featherstone explained how he was “Delighted” for Daly to get himself on the scoresheet: “We spoke a lot this week about where I see him moving forward, the problem with your Daly type of players is that he’s very versatile.

“Sometimes he’s affected by having to play out of his position, especially with the squad we’ve got at the minute, he’s been hindered by a lack of options in certain areas.”

Hartlepool are set to return to Enterprise National League action on Saturday the 24th of January against mid-table side Brackley Town.