LENNIE Lawrence has stressed the need for patience in Hartlepool United's search for a new boss - and has told Raj Singh he should appoint someone who is based in the North East.

Pools are on the lookout for their 11th permanent boss since Singh took charge in April 2018 following the sacking of Darren Sarll after Tuesday night's FA Cup defeat at Brackley Town.

Lawrence - who took on his first coaching role in the late 1970s - has been placed in interim charge as Pools prepare for Saturday's trip to Maidenhead.

And the interim boss is comfortable in the dugout for as long as he's needed, urging to Singh the importance of Pools taking their time and settling on the type of candidate they're looking for.

“We have to decide do you want another manager? Or coach per se with a different structure set up," said Lawrence, speaking to the media on Thursday.

"I will be making recommendations to the chairman, there will be interviews, people will apply, usual stuff.

“Strongest recommendation is we do not rush and it has to be right. The squad is deep enough, the chairman has provided a perfectly suitable playing budget. The tools have been provided.

“The management have got to mend what appears to be a little broken, players confidence, that is the first task. Getting people back to the top of their game, that appeared to be a problem and that is the way forward.

“How long is the process? I'm involved. I will be making strong recommendations."

And one of those recommendations is that the next manager is currently based in the region. That, says Lawrence, will ensure the next boss understands the club, the area and the fanbase.

"Unless there's an outstanding candidate, I've said make them North East based," said Lawrence.

"I'm not saying people didn't do a good job because they didn't live here or come from here, that's not fair. But I think the next one has to be North East based. They don't have to come from the North East, I don't, but they should be North East based.

"In football you never say never and never say always, but that's what I'll recommend.

“You have to understand what Hartlepool is, a working class area, and the club is the focal point of this community, still in this day and age. That's not always the case in big cities.

“If the team is doing well the fans are supportive; if you are not doing well this is a tough gig. You need to understand the nature of supporters, they want to see a winning team and effort."

One North East based potential candidate is Lee Cattermole, with the former Middlesbrough and Sunderland midfielder having previously been on Hartlepool's radar. The likes of Paul Simpson, Simon Grayson and Pete Wild have also been previously linked.

Lawrence was sad to see things not work out for Sarll, who lasted just six months in charge at Victoria Park.

“Darren worked hard, he was a good coach who put the hours in," said the interim boss.

"In the end, like everyone, he was at at the mercy and a victim of results and paid the price.

"We started well but the sending offs and the home form didn't help. I honestly thought we'd turned a corner after the Sutton win but that unfortunately wasn't the case."

Pools have set about identifying potential candidates but haven't yet held any interviews. Lawrence hopes Carl Dickinson - who arrived with Sarll as assistant manager in the summer - stays on.

"I like Carl, he's good at what he does," said Lawrence.

"I hope he stays but I can't clarify more than that at the minute.

“The process [of finding new manager] is underway.

"Once the news is out that Darren is sacked, you are bombarded with agents, you expect that. The skill is knowing what you want and to do your best to implement that."