Conspiracy Theories.

Having had a full 20 hours or so to look back on the Division 1 Play Off final between Hartlepool and Sheff Wed I can put the emotion of being there to one side and begin to assemble a conspiracy theory as to why Hartlepool missed out.

In a normal world paranoia would be the word used, but having no vested interest in Hartlepool other than having watched them on a few occasions in the past when Sunderland haven't had a game, then I can let my imagine run away with me.

To a neutral yesterday it would seem that Sheffield Wednesday got everything going and the Pool got nowt. Matty Robson, Adam Boyd and Eiffon Williams were all subject to some pretty cynical and downright nasty challenges without so much as a free kick being awarded let alone a word in the ear from the Ref. Micky Nelson and Chris Westwood were pretty imperious in the centre of defence and I really couldn't see where in the second half Sheffield were going to get another goal from. John Daly putting Pool in the lead from his first touch was the catalyst to take them on ( well at least that and the Pool fans, who sat there almost in silent disbelief that Pool had the audacity to be on the brink of a higher level of football, where was your lift ?)
and with 9 minutes to go I couldn't see them getting beat.

Now then this is where the conspiracy theory clicks in. Chris Westwood makes the lightest of touches on the shoulder of the Sheff Wed player, he goes over like he's been hit by a bulldozer, Westwood walks after seeing red and Wednesday equalise. Down to 10 men for extra time the battle for Pool is up hill.

Conspiracy, I'm getting there.

1. Sheffield Wednesday are a true sleeping giant of the game who can command crowds in excess of 30,000 per week from a city of over 1,000,000
2. Hartlepool are a minnow of the game with records for re-election and command crowds of 4 - 5,000 per week ( average) from a town of 90,000.

Who would you want visting your stadium every week with the revenue away support of 3,000+ could bring?

If you were a match official would you be open to suggestion to make it happen and who would you favour?

If you were a Championship Club Chairman would you rather be looking forward to "glamorous" Sheff Wed visiting or Hartlepool?

All susposition of course and I am not suggesting for one minute thats what goes through peoples minds, but in a financially driven industry anythings possible.

I'll be interested to see what happens with "glamorous" West Ham this afternoon. I'll lay money now that there will be one or two contentious decisions.

Hartlepool........ do it the right way next season.

WIN THE LEAGUE and cock a snoot at the lot of them.