Pete Wild gearing up for 'a long winter' at Hartlepool United

Pools, who are only above the bottom four on goal difference, have a lot of work to do if they're to avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle at the wrong end of the National League.

Having been touted as potential title contenders ahead of the new campaign, Pools won each of their opening two games without conceding but a dismal run of 10 defeats in 13 league matches - that's not excluding National League Cup and FA Cup fixtures, of which Pools have lost all four this term - has seen them plummet down the table.