A SHOCKED Joe Allon has slammed the timing of manager Neale Cooper's departure from the club.

Hartlepool need only one point to guarantee a play-off semi-final place at Bournemouth on Saturday but preparations for the game have been hit by the club's decision to relieve the manager of his duties.

With only one game to go before Pool's fate for the season is decided, Allon has joined fans in demanding answers from the club.

"It has absolutely shocked me," said the former Pool striker.

"Mike Newell's sacking was a shock but it was at the end of the season and there had been spats between Mike and some supporters because he didn't deliver the championship.

"The chairman was well within his rights to do it and the majority of the time he has done a cracking job but you just think the timing of this could have been a little bit better.

"The club is only three games away from Championship football.

"I don't know if people realise the reality of this and how big it is for Hartlepool United to be playing in the division Sunderland have just been promoted out of.

"Teams like West Ham and Leicester are in it and you're talking about 30,000 crowds and putting Hartlepool, for the first time in their history, on the (football) map.

"Given the timing of it happening on Wednesday, the game is on Saturday - could it not have waited until Sunday morning? Has the manager got another job?

"He was on a six-month contract; when was it up? I want to know the answer as much as anybody!"

Chairman Ken Hodcroft has a reputation for the timing of dismissing his managers. Newell was relieved of his duties immediately after guiding Pool to promotion to what is now League One.

Allon believes the club's chairman is in danger of following in the footsteps of his more high-profile contemporaries.

He said: "If the chairman isn't careful he is going to end up getting a nickname like Deadly Doug at Aston Villa - like Killer Ken."

Allon believes Cooper will be a big miss at the club and says he has done a sterling job in such a short time.

"In the last two years Hartlepool have been knocking on the door of the play-offs," said the Pool legend. "Cooper and Martin Scott have been an excellent pairing and the majority of the time the club has been on a high.

"But if you have a look at the bigger picture and the last six years, including one promotion, there's been four play-off games and this would be the fifth. I think the whole club can be congratulated with the way it has worked.

"But what worries me is when you get a manager you want a bit of stability and I don't like the idea of him (Cooper) only having a six-month contract.

"If you want to see ambition you want stability. The worst thing about it is the fans are the ones who are suffering. They will want to know on Saturday after the game about the timing of his departure."

Cooper's assistant Martin Scott is in charge of Pool's crucial game at Bournemouth on Saturday and was tipped by many to get the job before the Scot was surprisingly appointed two summer's ago.

Allon says he would have no hesitation in handing the reigns over to the former Sunderland full-back.

"Martin Scott has to be given a chance straight away," insisted Allon. "But as for the bigger picture, who can say? I think they'll be inundated with requests for the job. People are desperate to get into football and there are a number of big names out of jobs.

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