Hartlepool United have moved to distance themselves from speculation linking boss Neale Cooper with a return north of the border, writes MATT WESTCOTT.

Following Dunfermline Athletic's decision to dismiss Davie Hay just three games before the end of the Scottish Premier League season with the Pars languishing at the foot of the table, Cooper, who left Ross County to move south, is being touted as a possible replacement.

However, with United facing a do-or-die match against Bournemouth on Saturday which will decide whether or not they make the Division One play-offs, Pool believe such speculation to be less than helpful.

Cooper, who played for the Pars between 1991 and 1996, was linked with the post prior to Hay taking over last summer.

But a Hartlepool spokesman said yesterday: "I think it's highly inappropriate to talk about Neale Cooper being linked with other jobs when we have got a massive game on Saturday."

Dunfermline yesterday appointed Jim Leishman as caretaker boss but stressed it was purely until the end of this campaign.

The experienced Leishman, who has been both a player and boss at East End Park, stepped down from his director of football role at the club to take over from Hay.

A spokesman for the Scottish side said yesterday: "It is very much a stop gap until the end of the season."

Asked whether the club was accepting applications for the post the spokesman said: "We can't really answer that question until we see our position within the league itself, if we remain in the SPL or we go down to the First Division."

Sources in Scotland say Pars fans want the club to go in a completely differently direction to that taken by Hay, and Cooper might be a good fit.

"The fans want someone directly opposite to Hay in that they want somebody younger and more dynamic, fresher with more ideas and closer to his playing days and obviously Cooper would fit the bill," he said.

"He is also extremely fondly remembered for the fact that he played in the Leishman years here when they went up to the SPL in the late 80s and early 90s. He would definitely be a popular choice."

Meanwhile, both Joel Porter and Ben Clark, who missed last Saturday's woeful 3-1 reverse at the hands of Walsall, are hoping to be in the frame for Pool's weekend trip to Dean Court.

"They have both been progressing well and so hopefully they are going to be OK for the weekend," the Victoria Park spokesman said. "Ben pulled out at the back end of last week with an ankle injury.

"Joel was struggling with a thigh strain and I don't think he was ever going to be back for (last) Saturday.

"But hopefully he has had a bit of a rest now and will be back for the weekend."