IT is a measure of what Neale Cooper has achieved in the last two years that, should Hartlepool lose at Bournemouth later today and fail to make the League One play-offs, it will be seen as something of a disaster at Victoria Park.

The very fact that a club used to battling against adversity in the lower reaches of the Football League should be realistically contemplating taking on the likes of Leeds and Leicester is testament to the Scotsman's many achievements since leaving Ross County in June 2003.

Which makes it all the stranger that he will not be at Dean Court today to witness the fruits of his labour.

And, while other people might have contributed to Hartlepool's successes in the last two seasons, there is no doubt that Cooper deserves much of the credit for everything that has happened.

Chris Turner and, to a lesser extent, Mike Newell laid the foundations for the club's startling progress, while current caretaker boss Martin Scott played an influential role on the training ground.

The likes of Adam Boyd and Antony Sweeney did the business on the field but, ultimately, it was Cooper that developed the blueprint for turning Hartlepool into one of the most progressive clubs in the Football League.

For the proof of just how far Pool have come, you only have to look at how the two clubs that won promotion with them have fared in the last two years.

Rushden and Diamonds, who pipped Hartlepool to the title by two points, are currently languishing in 22nd place in League Two. Never mind dreaming of the Championship, Rushden are simply happy to still be in the Football League.

Wrexham, who finished a point behind Pool, haven't fared an awful lot better. They survived the drop last season but, after an inconsistent campaign that included a 5-1 defeat and a 6-4 win over Cooper's side, slipped back into English football's lowest league.

Hartlepool, on the other hand, have shrugged off the disappointment of last year's play-off defeat to mount a second successive assault on promotion.

Losing to Bristol City 12 months ago was a bitter blow, but Cooper's astute response was to stand by the players who had taken his side to within five minutes of the Millennium Stadium.

Jermaine Easter, Tony Williams and Mark Robinson all left in the summer, but none had been first-team regulars and the side that beat Bradford 2-1 on the opening day of the season was effectively the same one that had done so well in the preceding campaign.

Ben Clark's arrival from Sunderland bolstered the squad in October, while Jon Daly and Thomas Butler were also signed earlier this year, but Cooper's best move was not to attempt to fix something that clearly wasn't broken.

August's win over the Bantams was quickly followed by a 2-1 defeat at Tranmere, establishing a pattern that was to haunt the Scot for the bulk of the season.

Hartlepool were unbeaten in their first 14 home games in the league as they moved into the play-off places, a position that would have been even better had they not won just one of their opening ten matches on the road.

By the time his side ended that run in dramatic fashion at Wrexham, Cooper had taken the bold move of replacing Jim Provett with Greek goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos. The decision was controversial at the time - Provett had been one of the real stars of last season - but it paid dividends and underlined his willingness to put his neck on the line.

Not all of his selections proved as prescient. The decision to drop skipper Micky Barron on his return from injury was not well received, while a falling out with Jack Ross saw the talented Scotsman return north of the border.

But, with one game of the season to go, there is no denying that Cooper's legacy is a Hartlepool side that stand on the brink one of the greatest achievements in the club's history.

If Pool can win the one point they need to make the play-offs, the club's travelling army will rise as one to acclaim the players who have given their all to achieve a top-six finish.

It is to be hoped they also remember the man who has done more than anyone else to steer those players there.

Read more about Hartlepool here.