Hartlepool United Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Pete Wild as First Team Head Coach.
The 42-year-old will take charge at Victoria Park alongside Dave Conlon, who joins Pools as Assistant Head Coach.
Wild will lead his first training session on Friday, alongside Conlon, Gary Liddle and Adam Clayton and will take charge of Saturday’s fixture against Tamworth.
He arrives following an interim spell in charge of League Two side Tranmere Rovers in March.
Born in Royton, Wild began his coaching career at Oldham Athletic in 2018, initially as caretaker manager after stepping up from the club’s academy. His side won four and drew one of his eight games in charge, including a memorable FA Cup victory over Premier League outfit Fulham. Following Paul Scholes’ departure from Boundary Park in 2019, Wild was appointed the Latics’ permanent manager until the end of that campaign.
He joined Halifax Town in July 2019 and guided the Shaymen to the National League play-offs on two occasions during a three-year tenure.
That success earned Wild a move to League Two side Barrow in 2022. He inherited a team that had narrowly avoided relegation and, over two seasons in Cumbria, led the Bluebirds into play-off contention.
In 2024, Wild was appointed manager of Fleetwood Town, who were then sitting 18th in League Two. He secured the club’s Football League status before departing the Cod Army in January.
Assistant Head Coach Conlon brings a wealth of experience to the role, having spent a decade with Stockport County. During that time, he won the National League title in 2022 and League Two in 2024, before reaching last season’s League One play-off final with the Hatters.
On joining Pools, new Head Coach Pete Wild said: “I’m really pleased and excited to be here and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“Hartlepool United are a sleeping giant, and they should not be in the National League.
“During my youth, Hartlepool were always a well-established Football League club, and the challenge to get them back alongside what is going on behind the scenes with Landon (Smith) certainly attracted me to the role.
“There is so much to be excited about, and we hope we can help and bring the good times back to this football club.”
Chris Maxwell, Head of Football Operations at Bromby & Partners, said: “I’m delighted Pete has joined, and I firmly believe he possesses all the qualities to galvanise this group and lead us forward.
“We have conducted a thorough and lengthy process, and Pete emerged as a clear candidate for the role.
“He brings a wealth of experience, attention to detail and a relentless drive to improve, making him the right fit for Hartlepool United both short and long-term.
“We have a good group of players in the building, and his job will be to bring the best out of them and take them to where we know they can get to.
“We’ve worked hard to bring in the right players, both for now and for the future, and Pete is the Head Coach to lead the team and get the very best out of the squad we have.
“I’m excited to work with Pete and Dave, and I look forward to what we can achieve together.”
