Hello and welcome to my latest Blog here on the Official Website, I hope you're all well and looking forward to our game against Brentford on Friday night.

Obviously there is some disappointment around at the moment following our defeats to Exeter and Grimsby but I have to say I thought we played some decent football in both games.

On Tuesday it was just one of those games and nothing really went for us. I think if we'd managed to get that elusive first goal we may have gone to win the game, even from two behind.

We also had a lot of possession at Exeter but it was the same kind of story in that we struggled to turn that in to the goals we needed to win the game.

However, we had a good home win last time out in League One at The Vic so we will take confidence from that in to what we know will be a tough game against Brentford.

They've had a solid start and they're a good side so we'll have to make sure we're at our best on Friday night and hopefully we'll get the result we need to kick us on again.

Last weekend was a very long trip to Exeter and we all have different ways of passing the time during the journeys on the team coach, for example a few of us like to play cards or poker.

I've had a tip-off that Gary Liddle is featured in the Programme for Friday night suggesting that I've got some dodgy gambling techniques! Basically, that I'm a cheat. What I say is that it's the luck of the Irish - but the other lads call it cheating!

Seriously though, I would never cheat the boys out of money. We just have a bit of craic and play some cards to pass away the journey while we're on the coach.

Obviously Gary Liddle doesn't get involved because he knows I can beat him at everything - poker, black jack, everything. I think he needs to realise that it's 21 you stick at in black jack and not 12. I don't think maths is his strong point!

A lot of us play Championship Manager as well - we all start off with the same team and the same players and we see how well we all do. Leon McSweeney always signs himself - I don't know why he does that!

He also does a small bit of commentary on the games which is very good; in fact I think he's better at the commentating than playing the game. He started out with Manchester City and he's now down in the Conference - I think that may be his level actually!

I've been asking if any of you have any questions for me - there hasn't exactly been a huge rush but we've got our first one in this week so thanks to Neil Harrison for this:

"Denis you're a legend, how are you settling into life in Hartlepool?"
Neil Harrison

Well firstly Neil, it's obvious that you know your footballers!

Things have gone really well so far; the people are very friendly. If I get stopped in the street, people just say hello and then leave me to it - they don't bore the ears off you! They have a it of respect which is great.

I think I have started off well with the fans and hopefully we can keep that going.

Anyway, that's enough from me for now but if you have any more questions that you'd like to see me answer then send them through to media@hartlepoolunited.co.uk

Enjoy the game on Friday.

Denis