Lee Clark resigns as Hartlepool United head coach immediately after home defeat by Worthing

Lee Clark has resigned as Hartlepool United head coach with immediate effect, announcing his departure in a post-match interview moments after his side's 3-1 home defeat by Worthing.

Lee Clark during his time as Hartlepool United head coach

The loss to Worthing was Pools' third defeat in a row and their sixth in seven matches, pushing the County Durham club down to 18th in the National League before the afternoon kick-offs. Clark, who took over at Victoria Park in the summer after a short spell with Rotherham United at the end of last season, won only three of his nine National League games in charge, and fans called for his head during Saturday's game as the slump continued.

Resignation delivered on air

Clark made his decision public straight after the final whistle, telling BBC Radio Tees: "I resign from my position with immediate effect."

The former Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham player added: "I wanted to give this club and the fans something to be proud of, what they deserve, but I haven't been able to do that unfortunately."

"I was excited to take the job and I wanted to be the man to get them back to where they need to be and deserve to be, but it hasn't worked out," said Clark, who previously managed Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City.

Ninth boss in four years

Hartlepool were taken over in January by American businessman Landon Smith as the club chase an end to their four-year stay in the National League. The search now begins for the club's ninth permanent manager or head coach in this period outside the English Football League, underlining the scale of the turnaround task facing whoever succeeds Clark at Victoria Park.