AS they searched for Neale Cooper's replacement at the back end of last year, Hartlepool United courted Phil Brown, then decided at the last minute he wasn't the man to take charge of the club.

Now they've decreed John Hughes isn't the right man either.

Six and a bit months down the line after his appointment, after he was poached from Livingston, it's becoming hard to tell what they want.

Pools have, under the stewardship of Ken Hodcroft, always been a club which does its business under the radar. They don't court publicity, bad headlines or intrusion. As a result, there's no reasons given for the departure of Hughes and long-serving coach Micky Barron.

Their next appointment is vital, seeking their fourth manager in just two years, the tenth appointment (not including caretakers) since Increased Oil Recovery took over in 1997.

After nothing but measured progress in that time, Pools have stagnated in the last two seasons, perhaps even longer. In Hughes they had a honest manager who was willing to put the graft into shaking the club and squad from its slumber.

And, whoever takes control this time, must be able to make the changes to the playing squad Hughes planned.

Is it the manager who needs changing or the playing squad overhauling?

To release only one regular first-teamer following relegation was a stunning decision. Hughes made his recommendations and, when they weren't acted upon, perhaps the writing was on the wall earlier this week.

Then again, despite the improvement in fortunes in the second half of the season - when Hughes was named League One manger of the month for February - his exit isn't a surprise to insiders.

It was clear in recent weeks that the relationship between Hughes and chief executive Russ Green wasn't a happy one and there's been rumours over the last week of approaches to potential managers.

When Hughes was sitting in the stands for the last game at Crawley as he served a touchline ban, he wasn't sat with his chief executive, instead he perched next to Steve Coppell, the home side's director of football.

Frustrated at a lack of progress behind the scenes and a failure to sign any players in either the January transfer window or the emergency loan opening that followed, Hughes turned the focus on Green.

After Hartlepool-born Matty Dolan, who trained with the club and ended up moving on loan from Middlesbrough to Yeovil, and two teenagers from Newcastle United slipped away, Hughes changed tack.

During his press conferences he let it be known he had put his faith in Green to deliver the players he wanted, putting the onus on the chief executive's shoulders.

It was a move that didn't go down well one bit within the Victoria Park offices.

The relationship between coach and chief executive was strained at best.

Hughes was frustrated at what he felt was the club's intransigent ways of operating.

It's a formula which has worked well over the years, but one which has been a source of some frustration to managers.

And, as Hughes and Green dug in their respective corners, there was an uneasy feeling around the club. There was too much hearsay and conjecture for there to be nothing in the rumours of change being imminent.

Hughes wanted decisions to be made on players before the season ended; it's club policy not to enter contract talks until after the final ball has been kicked.

By the time they started, Hughes was on holiday, and his recommendations and lists weren't adhered to.

Chairman Ken Hodcroft had earlier promised a thorough review into the season, declaring: "We will also need everyone's support for decisions taken during the summer months.''

It didn't really start with the first take of the club's retained list, although there should still be more to come on that front.

But it took on a big leap yesterday. Pools are big on loyalty and they don't come much more loyal than Barron.

To axe him after 17 years at Victoria Park indicates that they feel a shake up is essential.