CHRIS Turner took over at Hartlepool United in 1999 and was quickly mocked by many after making one promise and two bold predictions.

The promise rang true, one prediction proved correct and tomorrow his other forecast could come to the most spectacular of fruitions.

When he arrived at Victoria Park, Turner saved Pool from relegation to the Conference and, ever since, the club has been on an upward curve.

That positive progression has led to five play-offs and a promotion in six of the most successful seasons in the club's history.

And, after Pool's average crowd went through the 5,000 mark, there's now only Championship football - or First Division as it was then - remaining.

Tomorrow's game with Sheffield Wednesday can put Pool in the Championship and Turner, who left Pool for Hillsborough in 2003, admitted: "Getting into the First Division was always a target of mine, that and playing in front of 5,000 crowds at Victoria Park.

"I said I could see the club playing at that level and people laughed at me when we were bottom of the Football League!

"Now, a few years later, probably only Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have been more consistent than Hartlepool. They have had 70-odd points for each of the last five seasons and that takes some doing.

"They could end up in the Championship and what a prospect that would be.

"The chairman (Ken Hodcroft) and the owners (IOR Ltd) deserve their success for the way they run the club. It's a reward for all their hard work.''

Turner took Pool to the top of League Two before moving to Hillsborough in November 2002. He was sacked from the club he supports last September and took control at Stockport soon after.

He couldn't halt the inevitable drop to the basement and there will be two divisions between Turner and one of his former clubs next season.

Turner, in New York on holiday this weekend ("I didn't expect Stockport to be in the play-off final this season!"), said: "There's nothing between the teams and Hartlepool beat them not that long ago, but that game will mean nothing this weekend.

"Perhaps there is a psychological thing, especially with Adam Boyd after his hat-trick, but nothing else. I watched the second leg and it could have been four or five to Tranmere, but Pool's goalkeeper and central defenders kept them in it, they really did.

"And I think those positions for both teams will prove vital on Sunday.

"It's all about how (Micky) Nelson and (Chris) Westwood deal with (James) Quinn and (Lee) Peacock and how Wednesday's defenders deal with Boyd and either (Jon) Daly or (Joel) Porter.''

He added: "When the Tranmere game went to penalties, I had flashbacks of what happened at Cheltenham.

"But it's funny how it works out - we went to Cheltenham, played them off the park and lost, this time they went to Tranmere, got played off the park and won.

"I was delighted for Ritchie Humphreys. He's a fantastic professional and it took some bottle to go up and put that one away the other week."

And Turner, who this week signed former Pool duo Jermaine Easter and Mark Robinson at Stockport, believes Pool will have to keep close tabs on Jon-Paul McGovern, Wednesday's right winger.

"He can cause problems,'' he said. "He's not a goal scorer, but a creator and Matty Robson might have his hands full there.''

Ex-Pool defender Graeme Lee is absent today as he has been out of action with a groin strain.

"He did very well for me at Hillsborough,'' said Turner. "It's a shame he's injured because it would have added more spice to the game.''

Lee, who followed Turner south, said: "I do honestly think we'll win.

"I said to my fiancee when we got to the semis that I believed if we got to the final we'd do it; that was before I knew we were going to play Hartlepool.

"I think our lads have got the strength and ability to rise to the occasion and do it.

"I hope I'm right. If we really put our mind to it, I think we could win it well. All I am bothered about is us winning the game.

"I'm looking forward to it. I just wish I was playing.

"When we played them up there, I was watching and ended up among the Hartlepool people. Every time they scored they were looking at me and I was trying to keep my head down.

"The conditions were bad and a few things went their way. We had a few chances, which could have changed it.

"At our place, we battered them. The outcome will depend on who performs on the day.