Experienced midfielder/striker Craig Hignett spent some time training with Pools during 2006/07 after a long career spent mainly at a higher level with the likes of Crewe, Middlesbrough and Barnsley. He turned out for Pools in a couple of reserve matches and impressed the management team enough to be offered a short-term contract in March 2007. He made just two substitute appearances before leaving the club that summer. After a few years of retirement, during which he spent time with Middlesbrough's academy and with local media commitments, Hignett returned to Victoria Park in the summer of 2013 as assistant to new manager Colin Cooper. The pair managed to bring some entertainment back to the Vic as they built a promising young side over the course of the following season, but Hignett would not be around to see that season's end. He handed in his notice in March 2014 to accept a role back at the Riverside. Two years later, Hignett returned to Victoria Park as manager following the departure of Ronnie Moore. He spent almost a year in the job as Pools continued to struggle in the Football League's basement division. He left by mutual consent in January 2017 with Pools sat in 19th. The appointment of Dave Jones did nothing to improve fortunes, and Pools were relegated in heartbreaking fashion on the season's last day. Fast forward a year and Hignett was back at the Vic, this time as Director of Football as new owner Raj Singh attempted to stabilise the club. Within a year, Hignett was managing the first team again following the brief and unsuccessful tenure of Richard Money. This time he was in charge for just nine months. With Pools showing no convincing signs of mounting a challenge for a lucrative promotion back to the Football League, Hignett was relieved of his duties following a televised defeat at Stockport County. His replacement, Dave Challinor, would go on to succeed where others, Hignett included, had fallen short.