SAD POOLS TO BET ON CAPTAIN SAM

HARTLEPOOL will look to appoint Sam Collins as their new boss following Paul Murray’s sacking on Saturday after just 45 days in charge.

The 38-year-old Murray had only been boss since October following the departure of Colin Cooper, but Friday’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to minnows Blyth Spartans was the final straw for the League Two strugglers.

And Collins, the 37-yearold club captain who has made over 250 appearances for Pools, is likely to be given the job until the end of the season. A club statement read: “Hartlepool United can announce that manager Paul Murray and assistant manager Willie Donachie have been released from their contracts.

“Sam Collins has been placed in temporary charge of first team affairs. The club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Murray’s record was five defeats, one win and a draw during his brief seven-game reign with the club. But with the Pools rock bottom of the Football League – six points adrift of safety – he sounded like a man under pressure after Jarrett Rivers struck a last-minute winner for Non-League Spartans at Victoria Park on Friday.

“It was very similar to our league games, it was a typical second-half performance, we concede and then struggle all the way through,” said Murray.

“We’ve been trying to address it all the time. How can you go from the first-half performance to that? It was unbelievable.

“We lacked ideas and effort off the ball. It was really poor that second half. Everyone was poor, at a level I’ve not seen.

“We haven’t got enough men or leaders, they are the simple facts.”

MATCH REPORT

SEE PAGE 30