HARTLEPOOL United supporters could perhaps be forgiven for feeling a little underwhelmed this morning.

Neale Cooper and Ross County might not mean much to this Victoria Park just yet.

"Ross County?" asked Cooper. "It's somewhere near Iceland."

But Ken Hodcroft's ability to pull surprise managerial appointments out of hats never ceases to amaze.

Just like Chris Turner and Mike Newell before him, Cooper was hardly top of anyone's shortlist; apart from the one that counts. Remember though, IOR don't do it by the Official Handbook of Running a Football Club.

Hartlepool United are part of the IOR Empire and as a result all it's non-playing staff are treat like any other IOR employee - oil worker or engineer.

Their selection procedure is a million miles away from the norm. After completing his first task of promotion, but missing out on the championship, Hodcroft felt Newell couldn't take the club any further.

Newell never enjoyed the relationship with the fans enjoyed by his predecessor, despite going down in history as only the third man to lead Pool out of the basement division.

But if one of Newell's downfalls was a lack of passion, then in Cooper they have the man to inject some life and character on the touchline.

At times Newell's dour manner never went down well, his relationship with the support never got beyond first base as he ultimately failed to deliver the championship trophy they craved and expected.

But tracksuit manager Cooper is different gravy. This is the man who spent three months of the season in the stands after a Scottish FA ban for touchline over-exuberance.

"I'm not the sort of manager who will keep himself to himself,'' he admitted. "I listen to the players and everyone will have different opinions on how the game is played.

"Aye, I had a wee bit of bother up in Scotland! That was an experience.

"At times I suppose I am a bit of a character and I think with young players you sometimes need that. I am a hands-on man.'' Derek Christie, a sports reporter with Century FM, worked with Cooper in Scotland and expects the 39-year-old to impress.

"He is a man who would sweat every last drop to get the results,'' he said.

"The touchline ban came after a game with Clyde, a bit of a rival team if you like, and it was nothing serious but it showed he cares. After games you could see how upset he was if he lost. Not everyone shows the passion of Neale Cooper.''

Read more about Hartlepool here.