Wadsworth suited to North Sea air

MICK Wadsworth’s 25-year managerial career has been nothing if not nomadic.

The Barnsley-born former Athletic boss has at various times taken the helm at St Kitts and Nevis, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Beira-Mar in Portugal.

Few Hartlepool fans broke out the bunting when the experienced 60-year-old landed a role as caretaker boss at Victoria Park following the sacking of Chris Turner in August.

But Wadsworth’s well-travelled football brain has clearly been invigorated by the North Sea air.

Pools have excelled lately and while the 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day shocked the supporters of the promotion-chasing home side, it gave the confident visitors a fourth successive win and a sixth from seven in all competitions.

The margin would have doubled, too, had Armann Bjornsson not produced a stunning miss in front of an open goal in the latter stages of the game.

From being relegation candidates, Hartlepool are now right on the edge of the npower League One play-offs.

And with a 100-per-cent record from three matches played this month, Wadsworth appears to be a shoo-in for the manager of the month award.

Hartlepool’s success away from home is better than anyone else’s in the division. Five victories have been picked up away from Victoria Park, with only six goals conceded in 11 games.

The strong, settled defensive unit which picked up the latest victory at the Galpharm Stadium comprised experienced ex-Darlington right-back Neil Austin, a centre-back pairing of Peter Hartley and captain Sam Collins, and ex-Carlisle United left-back Evan Horwood.

Former Athletic midfielder Paul Murray (33) is the familiar face pulling the strings in midfield after heading north from Shrewsbury in the summer.

Antony Sweeney has scored eight goals from midfield this season, including a hat-trick in the recent 4-2 home win over Yeovil in the second round of the FA Cup, with the rest of United’s goals spread around the team.

The current resurgence is all the more impressive considering the demoralising end to the season Hartlepool suffered last time around.

Only goal difference saved them from relegation to League Two, with a three-point deduction hindering their cause as a result of fielding Gary Liddle while the player was suspended.