DAVE Challinor is committed to continuing to move Hartlepool United forward after signing pen-to-paper on a new contract at the club.

After months of negotiations, Challinor has signed a fresh three year deal that will keep him at Victoria Park until the summer of 2024 putting to bed any potential fears from the fan base. 

The saga dragged on into the season after Pools promotion to League Two delayed negotiations but following positive talks with Chairman Raj Singh and Challinor, a deal was agreed in principle a number of weeks ago. 

The club made the announcement on Friday evening, on the eve of their 1-1 draw with Exeter City. 

Pools maintained their unbeaten record at home as Luke Molyneux scored his first league goal of the season. Sam Nombe equalised with a header just before half time as the game went on to finish as a draw.

Challinor told BBC Radio Tees Sport: “It’s good to get things sorted and have some continuity and stability in terms of what we’re doing.

“I didn’t have massive fears things wouldn’t get sorted, it was more around the detail.

“Hopefully everyone can move forward now. In terms of me committing to being here, there were lots of factors and facets as to potentially why I would or potentially people thought I wouldn’t but it’s about moving forward.

“We’ve got the club into a situation where we are back in the Football League and we’re on the up but there’s lots of works to be done on the pitch as well as off the pitch in terms of the infrastructure and allowing the club and the team to move forward and be successful.

“Hopefully with the things that are in place and the stuff that needs to be put in place for the next six to twelve months, we can do that.

“The main part and the reality is making sure that we are a Football League club and that falls upon us to make sure that happens.

“Focus wasn’t really elsewhere but what it does is eases any fears that other people may have had and allows us to try and progress whilst winning football matches.

“I said about this feel good factor, as much as football is about winning, it can’t just be based around winning. We’re going to lose football matches, we’re not going to play well at times. That can’t be the doom and gloom returns. You’ve got to realise, and I’m sure the supporters will, the football club is going in the right direction for the first time in a long time. We have to make sure that continues.

“That won’t be based solely around winning football matches. We want it to be but recognise where we are at and what we want and what we’re trying to build. Not just for short-term, but medium-term and long-term.”

Pools remain in the League Two play-offs and are back in action next weekend when they make the trip to Stevenage.