Hartlepool appoint Wild as head coach

Hartlepool United have appointed former Oldham and Halifax boss Pete Wild as their new head coach.

The 42-year-old replaces Lee Clark at Victoria Park after he resigned last month.

Wild’s first game in charge of Pools, who are 22nd in the National League, will be at home to Tamworth on Saturday.

“Hartlepool United are a sleeping giant, and they should not be in the National League,” Wild told the club website.

“There is so much to be excited about, and we hope we can help and bring the good times back to this football club.”

He started his coaching career at Oldham and led them to an FA Cup win over Premier League Fulham during a spell in caretaker charge in 2018-19.

After Paul Scholes’ brief spell as manager of the Latics he was appointed boss until the end of that season and then took over at National League Halifax that summer.

He led the Shaymen to sixth, 10th and fourth in his three campaigns in charge before leaving for League Two Barrow.

The Bluebirds finished ninth and eighth in his two seasons at Holker Street but surprisingly sacked him at the end of 2023-24.

Wild replaced Charlie Adam at Fleetwood in December 2024 but was sacked in January of this year after six defeats in seven matches and he ended the campaign in interim charge at Tranmere.

He now takes over at Hartlepool after Clark, who was only appointed in the summer, quit after six defeats in seven league matches.