Former Premier League star, 53, resigns as manager of National League side with immediate effect

A FORMER Premier League star resigned as a National League manager during his press conference.

The ex-midfielder spent nine seasons in the top flight with and Fulham.

But just , Lee Clark has walked away from the job.

Pools beat Barrow on the opening day of the National League season.

But since then, they have lost six of the next eight in the league – and both in the National League cup.

That included a 3-1 defeat at home to Worthing earlier on Saturday.

The result left Hartlepool 19th in the National League.

And Clark decided enough was enough and called time on his brief stint at Victoria Park.

He then announced his resignation during his post-match interview – after chants of “sacked in the morning” from the home fans.

Clark said: “There was no reaction to the result [2-1 defeat to Altrincham midweek] or the performance, all I want to say is I resign from my position with immediate effect.

Fixtures Results Table

Saturday 19 September

Forest

17:30

Live Teams

Coventry

Sunday 20 September

Bournemouth

14:00

EPL

Liverpool

Leeds

14:00

EPL

Palace

Saturday 19 September

Friday 18 September

English Premier League Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

4

12

6

4

0

0

2

5

12

4

4

0

1

3

5

10

11

3

1

1

4

5

9

6

2

3

0

5

5

9

3

2

3

0

6

4

8

4

2

2

0

7

5

8

2

2

2

1

8

5

8

0

2

2

1

“I wanted to give this club and the fans something to be proud of, what they deserve, I haven’t been able to do that unfortunately.

“I know what this club means, I said it at the start when I got the job, I was excited to take it and I wanted to be the man that got them back where they need to be and deserve to be.

“It hasn’t worked out, you’ve heard the reaction of the supporters, I took a long time out of the game and I wasn’t going to be coming back and getting an atmosphere like that.

“It’s not going to change and it’s not nice for the family and friends to listen to that.”

A Hartlepool club statement added: “Hartlepool United Football Club can confirm that Lee Clark has resigned from his position as Head Coach with immediate effect.

“We would like to thank Lee for his service during his time at the club and wish him every success for the future.

“A further update will be provided in due course.”

Tynesider Clark came through the academy at St James Park, starting and ending his 16-year playing career with the Magpies.

He had two years with Sunderland and six in West London before returning to the North-East.

Clark started his managerial career with three years at Huddersfield and also took charge of Birmingham for two-and-a-half seasons.

His other managerial gigs were at Blackpool, Kilmarnock, Bury and Blyth Spartans before heading overseas, most recently with Al-Merrikh in Sudan in 2022.

After at the end of last season but could not prevent the Millers’ relegation from League One and immediately dropped down to the National League for the Hartlepool job.