Scott will do his homework to keep Westwood at Pool

Scott has been invited to take part in the prestigious week-long UEFA Pro-Licence Course.

And while he is on the residential course, Scott - unveiled as Neale Cooper's permanent successor at Victoria Park on Saturday morning -will also be turning his attentions to keeping one of his best players at Pool.

Chris Westwood is ready to return home to the Midlands after six seasons in the North-East.

A contract at Walsall, close to his Dudley-based family, is all but agreed and, with his Hartlepool home put on the market, Westwood looks set to depart when his contract expires on June 30.

But Scott knows how vital the defender is to his club and has vowed to do all he can to persuade him to remain.

"Hopefully he won't be leaving, it's not cut and dried yet,'' said Scott. "I want to keep the best players at the club and he is one of them. It's not a financial decision, or a football decision and we've got to respect that.

"It's a personal decision and whatever decision he comes to, we've got to respect that too.

"I've told him that if he does leave I will be totally gutted. I feel that from my point of view I'd like the chance to manage him and have him play for me.

"I want him in my squad and will do my utmost to keep him. He's a great character to have around the club. He's a big part of things here, a big character - he's the PFA rep, as he keeps reminding me, so we've all that to look at and he's got great ability too.

"I've often said when him and Micky Nelson are playing well, the team plays well.''

He added: "He has been outstanding for six full seasons now and I'd like him here for as long as he can. He's a great lad and hopefully we can keep him here.''

Scott hopes his appointment will help Westwood and Pool's other out of contract players decide their future lies in the North-East.

"I don't blame them for waiting to find out what is happening, as a player you want to know who is in charge,'' he said.

"I'm totally confident that those players who haven't signed will do soon.

"Ritchie Humphreys has agreed his contract and it's there for him, but not signed yet. He was waiting to see what was happening.

"There's players who we have an option on - Joel Porter and Hugh Robertson - who we are keeping. We have told them they are staying.

"There's Darrell Clarke as well and we can't forget about him - he is staying because the season has been written off completely for him.

"We have been building something special here for five or six years and some players have played a big part of it and I want them here.

"Thomas Butler is out of contract, but I played a big part in getting him here and I want him to stay.''

Scott's promotion means there is a vacancy for an assistant and, while he admits he has yet to make a decision, Paul Stephenson will be part of the set-up.

Pool's youth team boss stepped in to help Scott during his caretaker reign and he said: "He will be involved - he's a great lad, a good coach and I have a lot of respect for him. He has done an excellent job and he will continue to do so.

"I have to think about my assistant and it's a big decision to weigh up. No way will I bring someone in who has no experience - I already have the right man in that situation in Paul Stephenson.

"I have to think about it all. I have a few in mind, but it has to be right for the club and myself.''

Scott's former Sunderland team-mate Kevin Ball is an option. He is currently coach at the Academy of Light and the pair remain friends from their time on Wearside.

The new Pool boss will link up with Bolton's Sam Allardyce and Brentford's Martin Allen among others this morning.

The course, by invitation only, is designed to help managers and coaches develop their skills and Scott admitted: "It's very nice to be asked, a real honour.

"There's some good managers right across the board there and it will be good to make friends and contacts while I'm there.

"It's a really tough course and will be a rewarding one. It's all positive for me and for the club.

"You can never stop learning - I've gone from youth team coach, to reserve team coach to manager here and I'm learning all the time.''

Pool chairman Ken Hodcroft, after making his fourth managerial appointment since taking control in 1997, said: "We've made steady progress over the years and the days of this club fighting relegation are right behind us now. That's gone now.

"I really do believe that what happened in Cardiff last month saw Hartlepool United recognised as a very professional club and a good one for players to come to.

"That's why we come to the decision of appointing Martin. We believe in appointing people through the ranks and we feel he deserves to be in this position of manager.

"The players are right behind him and so is everyone at the club and owners IOR. We feel he can take us to the next level. Next year could be a very exciting season.''

* Pool's part-time goalkeeping coach Mark Prudhoe has joined Hull City on a permanent basis.

Read more about Hartlepool here.