'Intolerable' - Fuming ex-Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling announces his resignation

Veteran TV presenter Jeff Stelling has resigned as president of in protest against the prolonged sale saga that is threatening to engulf the club. Hartlepool owner Raj Singh first listed the club for sale in April 2023, following their relegation from the English Football League, but resigned from his role as chairman two months ago.

The club assured fans it would not change hands until after the 2024/25 season's end, with Singh vowing to cover player and staff wages until then. However, with a successor yet to step up, pre-season preparations have been hit by uncertainty. The collapse of recent discussions has left the future of Pools hanging in doubt.

Broadcasting legend and talkSPORT host Stelling, who would his beloved club while fronting on , became honorary president in 2015. But he has now slammed the current situation, taking to X - formerly known as Twitter - to vent his fury.

"Following Raj's latest statement, I have resigned as President of @Official_HUFC," Stelling, 70, began. "I know this is only an honorary role but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control the club.

"Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner. Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over.

"Not once have I been consulted about this even though I am a shareholder. I have not met the would-be buyers, but I do know they have been trying to buy this club for over a year - not the actions of time wasters. I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best."

In a statement from Hartlepool, it was announced that season ticket holders will be invited to vote on whether they would like to accept assistance from Singh moving forward - a proposal put forth by the owner himself.

The club also disclosed another missed deadline by a prospective takeover group. "The club is already running the risk of failing to prepare for next season which could become unrecoverable in a very short period of time," said a Hartlepool statement.

"The club's retained player list must be decided upon by Saturday and squad planning is well behind where it should be due to the current limbo position. Much of the good work that has been done over recent years to put the club on a stable footing hangs in the balance. In summary the board feel that the club can wait no longer and must act now."

Singh, who took over Hartlepool at the end of the 2017/18 season, indicated that the ongoing problems were unforeseen and had hoped a takeover would be finalised by now.

Furthermore, he revealed that various individuals have implored him to provide interim support to the club until a new owner is secured, though he emphasised that such an arrangement is not imminent.

"Categorically at this time there is no party in a position with funds to immediately take over the club," he said. "That is not for a lack of trying and there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes that people just don't see."

Hartlepool finished 11th in the National League table this season, eight points off the play-off places, and a huge summer now lies ahead for the club off the field.