Hartlepool Utd
We told you so ... Turner quits as Pools boss
CT - out
By Charlie Summerbell
August 19 2010
Don't say we didn't tell you. Ten days ago, here on Box of Kippers, we said that the long-standing bond between Pools boss Chris Turner and chairman Ken Hodcroft appeared to have cracked. Well, now it's completely broken after Turner quit his job as Director of Sport at the club.
As usual, Pools are saying nothing apart from the fact that Turner has gone and Mick Wadsworth, who he appointed as coach just before the season started, will be in temporary charge for Saturday's League One visit to Yeovil.
There is also an unconfirmed report that club chief executive Russ Green has also resigned.
Pools haven't had a bad start to the season, with two draws in League One - both of which they could have won - and a good Carling Cup victory over Sheffield United.
In fact, Pools haven't even acknowledged that there had been takeover talks, but it's fairly common knowledge round the town not only that there were, but that if they had gone through it could have taken the club on to the next level.
Turner returned to Pools as Director of Sport in 2006 after failing as manager at both Sheffield Wednesday and Stockport, his close friendship with Hodcroft believed to lie behind his return.
Then midway through the 2008-09 season, when Danny Wilson was either sacked or resigned, depending on who you listen to, he took over as team manager, retaining the daft title of Director of Sport.
He signed a dozen new players in the summer of 2009, but last season Pools just managed to escape relegation after having three points deducted over the Gary Liddle cock-up.
Many fans wanted Turner replacing last season, but Hodcroft stood by his mate. The situation now appears to have changed.
With nobody saying anything, the media and the fans are being left to guess what has happened, and for what it's worth our guess is that Turner and Hodcroft have fallen out over a lack of funds, and as previous Pools managers have found out, falling out with Hodcroft is not a good idea if you want to keep your job.
Wadsworth is in charge at Yeovil and now the guesswork starts on who gets the job.
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I bet Wadsworth gets the job.
Let's hope IOR make a good appointment for the next manager assuming they don't just promote Wadsworth which would be a mistake in my view.
Otherwise, time for him to pluck another outsider from the same source that gave us Coops and Newell.
That suggests to me that maybe there are more than just footballing reasons behind CT's departure. Also I notice the statement on the official website appears to be having a dig at CT - the comment about bringing in 12 players and just managing to stay in L1.
They've obviously fallen out, but now the rumours are flying thick and fast, how long before KH says something on the official site?
It may be message board exageration as well but there seems to be too much in the wind for it to be total fantasy.
It's interesting that Hodcroft has paid tribute to Green on the official website, but has said nowt about Turner.
I don't think I'd fancy crossing KH.
As for Green commuting daily from Pontefract to Pools - he must be stark raving mad. If he offers to sell you his car, turn it down.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1309604/Deal-deal-Ex-Sheffield-Wednesday-boss-Chris-Turner-eyeing-Owls-takeover-bid.html
Or was he mistaken?
£10m would have transformed Pools overnight.
