AS HARTLEPOOL begin life without Chris Turner, Sports Editor Nick Loughlin looks back on his Victoria Park tenure, a period that has seen Pool become a third division force who have their sights firmly set on a move up to a higher level.

IN FEBRUARY 1999, Hartlepool United's last game without a manager was at St. James' Park, Exeter.

A single-goal lead wasn't enough as two injury-time goals ensured another defeat that miserable season. Watching in the stands that day was Chris Turner, who was swiftly appointed and transformed Pool into title challengers before moving up two divisions this week to take control at Sheffield Wednesday.

Now Pool's first game without a manager is, ironically, at Exeter.

Assistant manager Colin West and youth team coach Martin Scott took temporary command as Pool headed out on another marathon trek yesterday.

"Isn't it funny how these things work out?'' asked captain Micky Barron. "That was Brian Honour's last game in charge and the gaffer was in the stands watching. We didn't know at the time.''

Turner, however, left after 80 minutes and discovered the result while driving up the M5 back to his Wolverhampton home. "I knew then that the board would have to make an appointment that week,'' he later admitted.

And sure enough, that result left the Pool board with little time.

West and Barron are hoping for a result today which won't force anyone's hand when it comes to making a decision - not that a four-point lead at the top of Division Three should be cause for panic.

"It all just seems to have happened so quickly,'' Barron reflected. "We haven't been too sure what has been going on. Chris took training on Wednesday then was away before we finished. Colin West said he would be speaking to us all, but with us being away this weekend and Sheffield Wednesday away as well it will probably be next week now.

"It's an unbelievable move for him. I don't think he would have gone to any other club and no-one can knock him for going back to Sheffield. Good luck to him is the message from all the lads.

"It can be a bit unnerving for the players because no-one knows what is going to happen at the club and who is going to take over, but we have got to get on with things and do everything we can to stay at the top.

"We are a close group of players, but now we have three long away trips to think about and it will give us all plenty to talk about when we are travelling. In a way, having three games like this could actually help us because being away together helps us to bond.''

As Victoria Park captain, Barron enjoyed a close relationship with Turner, continuing the role he was first given by Mick Tait.

"He always showed a lot of faith in me and it was an honour to be his captain,'' he said. "I was captain when he came to the club so it would have been easy for him to appoint someone else or bring his own captain in, but he stuck with me.

"Right from the start, he was the sort who would take me to one side and have a chat with me about certain things and we had a very good relationship as captain and manager.

"But a lot of things changed at the club over the years for the better and it was all down to Chris Turner.

"All we can do now is continue how things are. It's different for whoever comes in because it's not as if the team needs changing around because it's not good enough. That's normally the case when a manager comes in.

"We are playing well and if things stay as they are and we do well this season then people will turn round and say 'Well it was Chris Turner's team anyway.'.

"But whoever comes in is coming into an attractive job and I think there will be a lot of big names and good managers putting in for it. We honestly have no idea who it will be or who is in the frame.''

Barron, who has sat out the last two games after a one-game suspension during which Paul Arnison stood in and impressed, admitted: "It will be strange with the gaffer not being in the dressing room. Three-and-a-half years is a long time for any manager, but the last thing we want to happen now is to go out worrying about not having him there and use it as an excuse.

"We have showed how strong we are this season by going top and that's what we must continue.''

Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson, meanwhile, last night revealed Pool could have lost Turner's services earlier this year - after recommending him for three jobs in the last six months.

Turner played under the new Sunderland boss at Hillsborough as a player and Wilkinson admitted: "Chris is an excellent choice for the club. I recommended him for three jobs in the last six months.

"He is well respected and will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to the job. One thing he won't do is let either Sheffield Wednesday or the public down. Given the time and patience that's required, if anyone can get it right, Chrissy will.''

Turner admits he is leaving Victoria Park with one regret - not leading Pool to promotion.

Pool are four points ahead and have set the pace since winning at Carlisle on the opening day of the season and he admitted: "I would have liked the timing to be better, it would have been perfect to be moving in May with us already promoted. But I've left a squad who are very capable of continuing what we have already done.

"They are a great bunch of players and I don't see any reason why they won't continue.

"I know I was linked with every job going, there was Barnsley, Stoke and others, but there were only two jobs to tempt me away from Hartlepool. One was Sunderland because they are a Premier League team who I used to play for and the second is Sheffield Wednesday because they are the team I've always supported.''

Turner faces a similar task to when he first took over at Pool - avoiding relegation.

"This is about not dropping into Division Two,'' he said. "When I came to Hartlepool we had 14 games to go and we went bottom after we lost at home to Brentford.

"For me the biggest game was Shrewsbury when Paul Baker stuck it in from the tightest of angles, we won 1-0 and that gave the players the confidence to go and beat Scarborough 3-0.''

He added: "I would like to thank the fans very much for their patience and support. We achieved something at Hartlepool which a lot of people didn't think was achieveable - getting the attendances over 4,000 on a regular basis. It's sad to leave, but I am proud of what we achieved.

"There's mixed emotions for me because I'm leaving a great team and great supporters and backroom staff behind. I know they will get promoted this season.'

Read more about Hartlepool here.