Hartlepool United have clarified their financial situation after it was revealed they needed to raise £200,000 by January 25th or face the possibility of entering administration.
Pools were put up for sale before Christmas just six months after current owner Jack Blackledge, of Sage Investments, took over.
In under two week's time, Hartlepool's players and staff are due to be paid, along with other bills, and their supporters and the wider football community have been rallying around to help raise the funds.
Now the club have released a statement about their finances, it read: “The current financial position of the Club is challenging, and we whole-heartedly appreciate the way not only our own fans but fans from other clubs have rallied together to help Hartlepool United Football Club at this time.
“Everyone at the Club has worked tirelessly to find a new owner in recent months and this hard work will continue. The current owner has provided significant funding to the Club but unfortunately a change of ownership is required.
“We need as many genuine people as possible to join together to buy the Club but if a consortium or a buyer cannot be found in the near future, administration is a very real prospect.
“In the meantime, thank you once again to all of you who have shown your true heart, your efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated by the Club.”
Blackledge is believed to have put £1.8m of his own money into Pools since acquiring the National League club from JPNG and Gary Coxall.
Unless Blackledge is prepared to cover the costs or supporters can rally to reach the total, the club's future could be in serious doubt.
Hartlepool fan Rachel Cartwright has set up a crowdfunding campaign while club mascot H'Angus has tweeted for a Save Pools Day at their next home game on Saturday, January 20 with fans urged to use the hashtag #savepoolsday.
“We're raising £200,000 to Help save OUR football club Hartlepool United” https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savehartlepoolunitedfootballclub
