Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone receives public and private backing from the club's new American owner Landon Smith.
Hartlepool United manager Nicky Featherstone says he is thrilled to have received the backing of the club's new owner.
American real estate developer Landon Smith completed a takeover of the National League club on New Year's Eve, ending Raj Singh's seven-and-a-half year tenure in charge.
Featherstone was appointed Pools' permanent boss by Singh last month, following the departure of Simon Grayson in October.
He had a video call with the new owner this week, while Smith also backed Featherstone in an open letter to the club's supporters.
"As a manager new to this game, it's exactly what you want to hear," Featherstone told BBC Radio Tees.
"The conversation I had with him privately was exactly what I wanted to hear and to back it up publicly is brilliant for me personally."
The 37-year-old played over 350 games for the club and had been captain and then player-coach before taking charge of first-team duties in an interim capacity, before he was appointed permanently.
Under Featherstone, Pools have climbed from 12th to ninth, four points outside the play-offs.
And with new ownership in place, he believes that there is a new sense of optimism at the County Durham club.
"It's exciting times for the club, let's see where it takes us in the short term," he said.
"I know the owner has a long-term vision for the football club. We're not just going to become the best team in the league overnight.
"It's a process and something he sees as a long-term plan. But there are a lot of positive feelings around the place, which is long overdue."
Category: General Sports
