Hartlepool United “won’t accept mediocrity,” according to Darren Sarll, in their attempt to return to the Football League the previous season.
Sarll, the former manager of Stevenage, Yeovil Town, and Woking, was introduced as the new manager of Pools yesterday, following the cancellation of Kevin Phillips’ contract.
After John Askey was fired in January, Phillips took over as manager of Pools and won seven of his 16 games in charge, placing the team in 12th place in the National League.
Hartlepool president and former Football Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling tweeted in response to the news of Phillips’ departure on Friday night: “KP has been a breath of fresh air at our football club.” I’m devastated. Summer is ruined.
Sarll, 41, has over 300 games under his management in senior football. After finishing fourth last season, he guided Woking to the National League playoffs for the first time in the team’s history.
After moving to the northeast, Sarll is now focused on pursuing a second promotion attempt and is determined to rouse the Non-League’s sleeping giant.
Sarll remarked, “I’m really excited to get started. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and challenge at the club.”
“My goal in coming here is to win, and we have to get closer to the playoffs.”
“We must challenge ourselves every season; we won’t settle for mediocrity, and it all begins in the dressing room.
“I am well aware of the incredible fervour that the supporters have for the team. We have a great advantage from their intensity, and we need to leverage the passion of this community. I genuinely want to contribute to the already remarkable history and make some enduring memories.
“We had a difficult backdrop and precarious league position when the previous manager left,” chairman Rav Singh commented on Phillips’ departure. We thought Kevin was the best choice to lead us through the situation, and in the end he has successfully ensured that the club avoids any relegation worries, which were once very real.
