DAYS after netting the spot-kick that secured Hartlepool United's place in the League One play-off final, Ritchie Humphreys had another reason to celebrate.

The midfielder signed a new deal at the weekend to keep him at Victoria Park for another two years. And, after playing over 200 consecutive games in four seasons at Pool, he is now relishing the biggest game of his career on Sunday.

Pool have already sold 13,000 tickets for the Millenium Stadium game and Humphreys said: "I'm really happy to stay at the club.

"I've had some really good times at the club and now we've a play-off final to look forward to.

"Not missing any games in that time also means a lot personally. Sunday is going to be such a great occasion, with such a massive prize at stake.

"We could re-write the club's history and we are determined to do the job.''

On the day Humphreys put pen to paper to stay at Pool, former boss Neale Cooper was unveiled as the new Gillingham manager.

Cooper left Pool almost three weeks ago and has wasted no time in getting back into the game.

And, after his new club were relegated to League One from the Coca-Cola Championship eight days ago, he is determined to lead them back next season.

Cooper led Pool to the play-offs in his first season at Victoria Park and left the club days before they secured this season's place in the end of season knock-out.

He has been given a two-year deal at the Priestfield Stadium and promised the same work ethics that secured success at Victoria Park.

"I would love to achieve promotion, but it will be a hard season. If the fans see a team which works hard and competes though, then they'll get behind that," he said.

"We will get the team ready, strong, fit and organised, and with the quality already here push as high as we can.

"I had never been to the club before, but as soon as I had, I realised that the chairman is ambitious and that it is an ambitious club.

"When I took the Hartlepool job we were everyone's favourites for relegation, but it didn't turn out that way. It is a hard league and there are a lot of strong teams in it."

The Gills have also kept continuity behind the scenes by retaining Ronnie Jepson as assistant boss and Cooper added: "Once you get a strong team off the park, which we have, that leads to the team doing well. I hear that the players are a good bunch and I had exactly that at Hartlepool.''

l Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul Strurrock has issued a warning to his players - get close to Adam Boyd this time.

The Pool striker struck a hat-trick when the sides met at Victoria Park last month and Strurrock said: "The boy Boyd will be buoyant that he is playing against Sheffield Wednesday.

"They have that kind of Indian sign over us - nothing but our best will win this game. We beat them 2-0 at home and played very well.

"It's an even game. Cup finals are always levellers. We should have decent conditions. I don't make excuse about the conditions when we lost at Hartlepool, we were rotten on the night."

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