COLIN WEST'S short spell in charge at Hartlepool United could come to an end after today's game at Southend United.

Caretaker boss West was understood to have agreed to take over at Pool permanently and he had already lined up close friend John Cornforth as his number two.

However, while club chairman Ken Hodcroft, who offered West the job earlier this week, has been on IOR business in South America, Sheffield Wednesday boss Chris Turner made a fresh approach for his former right-hand man.

And it seems to have been a successful one, with sources in Sheffield now under the impression that West has had a huge change of mind.

Now West, who led his side to a 2-1 victory over Exeter in his first game in charge, looks destined to take control of a Pool match for the last time this afternoon at Roots Hall.

If he does make the short move south, Pool will have a long list of names to turn to in their search for a replacement.

Newcastle legend and coach Peter Beardsley, ex-Rochdale boss Steve Parkin, former England star Chris Waddle and Cornforth have all let their interest in the role be known.

Meanwhile, West only has star striker Gordon Watson ruled out through injury, as he looks to guide Pool into the second round of the FA Cup.

Three weeks yesterday Pool made the long trip to the south coast and overcame Southend 1-0.

That night Eifion Williams grabbed a goal after just 53 seconds and it was enough to secure the points in what was to prove Turner's last away match in charge.

And West admits that he is hoping for a similar result today - though he insists he would like to see more goals.

"It would be fantastic to think we could get the same result down there as we did the last time," said West, who will again have youth team boss Martin Scott on the line with him.

"We could do with scoring one or two more goals to make sure it is a less nervous last 20 minutes.

"People say it is possible to score too early in a game but for me if we can score within a minute again that would be great.

"It is always a little more difficult to go away from home but it's up to the lads to go down there and show exactly what they can do."

West will not make any changes to the side that clinched victory over the Grecians last Saturday - a win that cemented Pool's place at the top of Division Three.

That means the 40-year-old will hand Bryan Barry-Murphy, a loan signing from Preston, the left-back shirt ahead of the unfortunate Mark Robinson.

And West admits that it has been difficult for the players currently out of the first team to impress.

"To be honest it has been difficult for the lads on the edge of the team to make a good impression as the reserves haven't been playing too many games," he said. "It doesn't help them but that's football."

Southend will not be able to field the same team that clinched victory at Bristol Rovers last week.

Defender Stephen Broad is serving a one match suspension and 20-year-old David McSweeney will deputise. Midfielder Kevin Maher (suspension) and striker Mark Rawle (hamstring) both return to the team.

l Former Pool boss Turner is using the links he formed while at Victoria Park to have a look at new players. Brann Bergen pair Tommy Knarvik and Alex Valencia - who both nearly joined Pool in the past - are due at Sheffield Wednesday next week.

Turner built up good relations with the Norwegian club during his time at Pool through owners IOR and their Norwegian-related business interests and he said: "The two players have been recommended to us and I will have a look at them next week."

Valencia has previously attracted interest from Sunderland and Knarvik said: "Obviously I'm going over there to impress."

Read more about Hartlepool here.