Hartlepool appoint Pete Wild as head coach after poor start to season

Hartlepool United have appointed Pete Wild as head coach, with Dave Conlon joining him as assistant, the club announced on Thursday. The 42-year-old takes over at Victoria Park after an interim spell with Tranmere Rovers earlier this year, returning to a division where he previously managed Halifax Town.

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Wild succeeds Lee Clark, whose departure followed a difficult opening to the season. According to independent Hartlepool news outlet The Monkey's Uncle, Clark resigned after nine games in charge. His team began the campaign with two successive wins before losing six of their next seven matches, prompting a search for a replacement.

The Non-League Football Paper reported that Hartlepool spoke with several candidates over ten days before choosing Wild. The appointment comes with Pools in the National League relegation zone after eight defeats in nine games, including their midweek home loss to Harrogate Town. Wild therefore inherits a side whose poor run continued beyond Clark's exit.

The club said Wild was scheduled to lead training on Friday with Conlon, Gary Liddle and Adam Clayton, before taking charge against Tamworth on Saturday. Conlon arrives after a decade at Stockport County, where he was part of National League and League Two title-winning campaigns in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

Wild's earlier National League record includes two play-off appearances during three seasons at Halifax, whom he joined in July 2019. He moved to Barrow in 2022 and subsequently managed Fleetwood Town. Hartlepool's announcement also highlighted his FA Cup victory over Fulham while in charge of Oldham Athletic.

Speaking in the club's announcement, Wild said the prospect of restoring Hartlepool's Football League status helped attract him to the job. He also pointed to developments behind the scenes involving Landon Smith as a reason for taking on the challenge.

Chris Maxwell, head of football operations at Bromby & Partners, described the recruitment process as extensive, according to The Non-League Football Paper. Maxwell said Wild's experience and drive to improve made him suited to the role, with the immediate task of getting more from the existing squad.