Sarll Is Starting To Feel At Home After Mammoth Move

The Londoner is no stranger to life on the road but with his new job comes a totally new life and he is embracing the change - even if keeping things local is what’s required.

Three of the four signings Sarll has made are players from the north east, with Adam Campbell last week joining Luke Charman, Jack Hunter and Nathan Sheron at Victoria Park.

While the Pools boss knows managers often like to bring the talent with them, bussing bodies up from the south is not something he was keen to do.

Instead, he’s done his homework and really got to know the scene this summer as he spoke to the supporters about acclimatising to a very different challenge at the other end of the country.

The former Woking and Yeovil Town manager said: “I wanted to make sure the connection with the north east is still as strong as possible.

“I didn’t want to be one of those managers from the south who brought ten Londoners up with him. We’ve looked into recruiting local players, players who understand the region as well as the culture and tribality of all of it.

“But as important as that all is, the due diligence is mainly about what they can do for us at 3pm on a Saturday.

“When I look at the workmen-like players, the top professionals, they will bring that edge to our play. We wanted to change the gear-box in the middle of the pitch. To have done the work we’ve done so far is really pleasing.”

He accepts there’s still work to be done and knows the pressure to get it right in the next few weeks is massive.

“The interview process when we meet a new player is time consuming but it’s such an important facet,” he told the club’s YouTube channel.

“What we’ll see will be determined by countless factors. How will they respond to my way of playing? How their fitness levels are, if they’ll stay injury free.

“If we get this part wrong, we get the season wrong. It’s a crazy time when you join a new club and you need to lay down your expectations early.”