JUST as last season ended with a goalless draw, so Hartlepool United's 2010/11 season ended with the same outcome.

The result may have been the same, but the circumstances could not have been any more different.

Griffin Park, Brentford 12 months ago yesterday was the scene of nerves, pressure and, ultimately, tears of relief.

This time, at Charlton, the spectre of relegation was dismissed weeks ago, months even. After Pools flew through December, they only needed probably six more wins to avoid the worries of the bottom four.

It was never an issue.

On the back of much-improved season, when the development of the team and progress of individuals has been marked, there's reason for a summer of optimism.

Mick Wadsworth will get the chance to mould his side, and there's the club's stunning offer of £100 season tickets to get even the most cynical on board.

Wadsworth will make his recommendations this week, with the decisions and retained list most likely to be made public by Friday.

“We would have thought we had won the lottery if we were given the chance to be 10 points and five places clear of relegation,'' admitted Wadsworth.

“We got carried away a little bit when we went into Christmas after that great run. We’d put ourselves in a pretty situation but I don’t think we had the strength and depth to sustain that, particularly in the frontline.

“It’s been a weak part of our game, we can’t run away from that.

“We’ve tried lots of combinations but haven’t found a successful pairing or threesome over four or five games, never mind over a season.

“We’ll have to look at that and see what we can do.''

Again at Charlton, as has been the case on many occasions this season, it was a lack of firepower that pegged Pools back.

A strong display at the back, with the defence and goalkeeper in tandem gace the platform and this was their 14th clean sheet in League One.

“I think the backline and midfield will be quite strong,'' added Wadsworth. “We have got some talent in there, up front, and we need to get more from them.

“The last 20 minutes underlined our problems up front, and we’ve had that many times – we have to work hard to get a nil-nil or win one-nil.

“But I think we’ve done well with what we’ve got.

“My recommendations have been out forward – they’ll be considered and we’ll talk about them on Tuesday.

“Then we’ll be seeing the players on Wednesday.''

There's plenty of players who Pools have to decide on. The club has the option of taking an extra year on some, while others are out of contract. Only Andy Rafferty and Evan Horwood are already contracted for next season.

Wadsworth doesn't need a radical overhaul, just a case of trimming and tidying up.

Some decisions seem straight-forward, others need debating. There's plenty to ponder.

And Wadsworth's position is amongst them.

Appointed first-team coach last summer, he kept the title and was put in command of the side until the end of the season.

Pools have been working without a first-team manager since Danny Wilson left in December 2008; Chris turner was director of sport, Wadsworth first-team coach.

He's got Ritchie Humphreys and Micky Barron helping out, and the management structure at the club could be sharpened up by chairman Ken Hodcroft.

“Our chairman and owners IOR demand we stay in this league and we have done that,'' he added. “We have a fantastic crowd and our support was fantastic.

“They were great and are fantastic bunch of people our supporters. “ “We've a lot of contracts up to consider and we have a chance to change one or two things.

“I'm ok with the (my) situation, I've really enjoyed the season and I would be very surprised and disappointed if I'm not here next season. The staff have been brilliant and I thank them for that.''

The closest Pools came to scoring at The Valley came when Sam Collins took possesion in the penalty area and, unlike a centre-half in that position normally would, he deftly turned and rifled a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

James Brown, back from injury after starting last weekend, had a couple of openings late on, but a lack of fitness and sharpness told. It is hoped he can finally enjoy an extended injury-free run next season.

MATCHFACTS

Bookings: Liddle (foul 33); Semedo (foul 33); Austin (unsporting behaviour 34), Yantorno (40, unsporting behaviour), Solly (foul 86)

Referee: Kevin Stroud (Gillingham): On the verge of bizarre in the first-half, second period was tamer 4

Entertainment: 3/5

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Elliott 5; Solly 6, Llera 7, Fortune 6 (Doherty 30, 6), Bessone 5; Wagstaff 6 (Ecclestone 76), Semedo 7, Stewart 5, Harriott 5 (Racon 67, 6); Benson 6, Wright-Phillips 7. Subs (not used): Sullivan (gk), Francis, Nouble, Parrett.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-5-1):

8 Flinders: Made three important saves to keep a clean sheet

8 Austin: Slotted in as if he's never been away with some fine tackles

7 Collins: Gave nothing away through the middle, winning header after header

7 Hartley: Another stout defensive show from the ever-improving centre-half

7 Horwood: The back four was a composed unit, and he helped balance it out

5 Yantorno: Little impact as he tried to create openings on the right flank

7 Gamble: First half most of Pools' play went through him in central midfield

6 Sweeney: Got forward more in the second half to support the lone striker than he did in the second

7 Liddle: First-half booked tapered his game in the second half, as he had to hold back a bit

6 Monkhouse: Always on the edge of the game instead of grabbing hold of it

6 Larkin: Thankless task, which has has performed on plenty of occasions this season

Subs: Brown (for Yantorno 55): A flying James Brown would have put one of the late chances away – but this run will have done him good

6 McSweeney (for Larkin 64): Worked right side to allow Brown to push up front

6 Boyd (for Gamble 86)

(not used): Rafferty (gk), Humphreys, Behan, Johnson.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Elliott 6; Solly 7, Llera 7, Fortune 5 (Doherty 30, 6), Bessone 5; Wagstaff 6 (Ecclestone 76), SEMEDO 7, Stewart 5, Harriott 5 (Racon 67, 5); Benson 5, Wright-Phillips 7. Subs (not used): Sullivan (gk), Francis, Nouble, Parrett.

MAN OF THE MATCH NEIL Austin – a typically reliable display. Made some vital tackles and regularly tried to prompt attacks