Pool boss takes a leaf out of Fergie's book

Hartlepool United's Scottish boss started his career as a young midfielder in Sir Alex Ferguson's successful Aberdeen side of the 80s.

And it goes without saying that the influence of working under the greatest British manager lives on.

In fact, Cooper can take it a stage further. He can call him a friend.

The Dons, under Fergie, dominated Scottish football for a short period.

Cooper won four Scottish Cups in five years, before trying his luck at Aston Villa. That didn't last long and his second spell south of the border promises to be a lot more successful.

When Cooper arrived at Pool, he was quick to admit he left Ross County because he lost his spark.

That spark kicks Cooper into life. He passes it on to everyone involved with Pool.

A joker at heart, his persona is built on a bubbly outlook to life and it's one of the reasons why the Pool fans have taken him to heart so quickly after the dour era of Mike Newell.

That the spark returned is, in some part, thanks to his relationship with Sir Alex.

Ferguson had Cooper as his midfield assassin as Aberdeen turned the tables on the Old Firm and dominated Scottish football.

For that, Ferguson remains grateful.

"I never made an enemy of him,'' recalled Cooper. "I may have had a few roastings from him, but I'm lucky in that he has helped my career.

"I know he is a busy man, but I can pick up the phone if I have a problem - I'm still learning the game.

"When I left Ross County he invited me there, and so did Graeme Souness at Blackburn, who I can count as a friend as well.

"Hopefully I never made that many enemies as a player, apart from a few Celtic players of course!

"Fergie invited me to spend a few days with him, they were great days, a different type of football - I had to leave my car in the third car park.

"You see the sort of respect players have for him. I arrived in the morning at nine o'clock and he was really busy, so I thought I would arrive a wee bit later the next day.

"I went in about a quarter past and he told me I was being fined for being 13 minutes late!

"That's the passion in him and I am a passionate person myself.''

Cooper spent a week at United's Carrington training ground; it left a permanent mark on him.

"The quality of the players and the standard they train to is immense,'' he said. "That's what I am trying to achieve here. I want them to train as if they are playing a match.

"I watched Scholes and van Nistelrooy in shooting practice and was amazed at the quality. But it's about natural ability as well.''

As Ross County manager, Cooper took a part-time club from the Highland League to the verge of the Scottish Premier League. He pushed one or two of the big boys all the way in Cup games and he can take the experience of those occasions into today's clash.

He recalled: "We played Dundee and Dundee United and went close a couple of times with Rangers.

"I can take a lot of things from those games. It's like as a player when we won the European Cup Winners' Cup - Real Madrid just thought they would have to turn up. It was a tremendous night, but that was Fergie. He never let us fear anyone, it wasn't in his nature.

"He's a great manager, a great motivator; whoever we play there is no point going there fearing them. On our day we can perform very well and the other team will have to play some great stuff to get the better of us, but we know it will be tough, Sunderland are the form side in the first division.

"The motivation of playing a big club works and I've got boys here who support Sunderland, so they will be wanting to do well against them.

"You have to be switched on. Against Rangers we played live on Sky and we were two down after four minutes, but we came back before losing 3-2.

"The next time we lost 2-1 and missed a penalty last kick of the game. You have to go and enjoy the occasion. I won't be putting any pressure on the boys.

"I've never been before, but Martin Scott and a lot of people have told me it's one of the best stadiums in Britain. We aren't kidding ourselves, we have to be at our best to get a result.''

Pool have impressed this season, as they strive to establish themselves in a new division.

They have yet to fall into the bottom half of the table and Cooper vowed: "We aren't going there to sit back and defend, it's not in our nature. We play good football.

"It was very important to win at Oldham last week after losing our unbeaten home record.

"We lost to Barnsley, but we didn't play badly. A couple of decisions went against us. I knew they would come back at Oldham and I couldn't have had a better response."

Read more about Hartlepool here.