Cooper back for second stint at Hartlepool

Hartlepool have confirmed the appointment of Neale Cooper as the club’s new manager following the sacking of Mick Wadsworth earlier this month.

Cooper, 48, will begin his second spell as the club’s manager having spent two successful seasons in charge from 2003 to 2005. Caretaker manager Micky Barron will remain as reserve team coach.

A statement on Hartlepool’s official website read: “Although the club received many applications for the vacant position and studied all CVs carefully, it was decided that by appointing Neale, and retaining Micky Barron as the reserve team coach, it would cause minimum disruption to the team’s main focus which is to climb the division and to try and reverse the current trend of home defeats.

“In addition, Neale is familiar with several of the existing team members, the staff in the office and fully understands the economic constraints that the owners have to keep in place due to the current financially-depressed climate.”

Cooper, whose 19-year playing career included stints at Aberdeen, Aston Villa, Rangers and Dunfermline, steered Pools to the npower League One play-offs in his first season in charge in 2004.

The Scot, who had led Ross County from the Scottish Third Division to the First Division, almost repeated the feat the following season, but left with one game remaining by mutual consent due to “personal and family issues” with the club on the verge of another top-six finish.

Cooper went on to manage Gillingham and then had a three-year spell at Peterhead. He left Balmoor in March of this year after a run of seven defeats in eight games left Peterhead bottom of the Second Division.

“When you talk about Christmas presents, what a fantastic one this is for me,” Cooper said last night. “When I saw the job was available I wrote to the club but I knew there would be a lot of good names in for it so I was delighted to get the chance to speak with them.

“When I got asked if I would like the job I had no doubt in my mind because this is a fantastic opportunity for me.”

He added: “I’ve been back a few times to visit friends here and the atmosphere and welcome I’ve received from the Hartlepool fans is second to none.

“I’ve always had a closeness and fondness with the people here and that’s continued even in the years since – I get more messages on my birthday from Hartlepool people than I do from anyone else. It’s just so exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck in and meet the lads.”