Turner believes his side suffer with the long distances to away games

Hartlepool United director of sport Chris Turner has highlighted the strain placed on his squad by long journeys such as Saturday's trip to Exeter.

Cash-conscious Pools travel to certain games on the same day to save costs and Turner admitted the long-hauls force him to manage his squad carefully.

"Seven-and-a-half hour journeys do take their toll on you when you've had two games in a week," he told BBC Tees.

"Clubs like us, Carlisle and Exeter it affects us, it preys on the mind."

Despite the impact of tiring journeys on the Pools squad, the Teessiders have enjoyed a promising start to the season and currently lie 12th, in the top half of the table.

Defeats have come against Norwich, Colchester and Charlton in League One, but as Turner admits such results are to be expected in a very competitive division.

"The teams that have beaten us are all up there and I'm not surprised that they're up there," he added.

"Bristol Rovers, Charlton and Colchester - we've played some tough fixtures so far, we're in a good position, we're in the top half which is where want to build from as the season goes on.

"But it's going to be very tight because apart from about six clubs everybody else can beat everybody else, so I don't think there's going to be a big gap between the bottom four and the top six."

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