Askey

And while Askey has suggested recruitment throughout the spine of his team will be significant this summer, the Hartlepool boss has started his business with the basics in defence.

Askey could hand a start to Hartlepool’s returning midfielder Nicky Featherstone after the club’s former captain penned a short-term deal earlier this week.

Askey’s side simply could not get going and invited pressure with a series of cheap giveaways as Halifax penned them deep inside their own half.

Askey’s side slipped to their first defeat in pre-season against the Sulphurites and will be looking to end their preparations on a high against what is likely to be a much-changed side following their 1-1 draw with La Liga side Mallorca at the weekend.

Askey was left very much scraping the barrel in searching for any positives – the only one he could muster being that the defeat does not impact their league campaign.

Askey will remain in charge of Hartlepool next season but this could prove to be the final time a number of these players wear the blue and white shirt at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Barrow man Grayson spent a short period on trial with John Askey’s side in pre-season but has now joined Hartlepool’s until the end of the season.

Hartlepool’s captain has been in and out of the team under manager John Askey since his arrival in February and could be set to make his final appearance at the Suit Direct Stadium this afternoon with the midfielder out of contract in the summer.

He's an ASKEY character.

John Askey says that planning has already started for Hartlepool United as far as any potential transfer dealings go next month when the EFL transfer window opens in January but has warned it may be difficult to bring certain players in.

John Askey's side are amongst the National League's leading scorers in the early weeks of the season.

John Askey’s side were beaten with 's 95th minute goal at the SMH Group Stadium as the came from 2-0 down.

John Askey suggests the issue regarding Hartlepool United midfielder Mohamad Sylla and his recent absence from the squad has now been ‘put to bed’ and dealt with.

Likely to be a key part of Askey’s plans and a big threat on that left-hand side.

On the bench Askey has brought three of the club’s academy with Campbell Darcy, Louis Stephenson and Max Storey all included in the match day squad.

Pools endured a huge summer turnover last year with 16 new arrivals before the transfer window closed with Askey recently suggesting some of that recruitment had not been up to scratch for what was needed to avoid the drop from League Two.

Pools played in front of their biggest home crowd of the season last week against – a game in which John Askey’s side would fall short in.

Sometimes it can be hard to find the words to summarise a particular performance but Askey’s use of the term ‘capitulation’ perfectly encapsulates what happened to Hartlepool.

To gain a better understanding of that kind of involvement, of those who started for Askey at Valley Parade, there have been only seven occasions another player has had more than Dodds’ total of 90 throughout the season.

Whether it was a season which proved a struggle for form, or a campaign littered with injuries, there are reasons for all in Askey’s squad to knuckle down this pre-season.