After retiring from playing he had a lengthy spell as manager of Mansfield Town. John Poole was originally signed from Sutton United by Nottingham Forest but failed to break into the first team With the outbreak of World War I he began appearing as a guest player for Sheffield United.
After the war he signed for Sunderland where he made his Football League début before finishing his playing career at Bradford City.
After retiring from playing he became coach at Bradford before becoming manager of Mansfield Town.