Promotion promises

Pool crashed out of the play-offs on Tuesday night in the worst possible manner, losing to Cheltenham in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out.

After five spot kicks each, Julian Alsop converted for the home side, but Ritchie Humphreys' effort crashed off the bar, goalkeeper Steve Book and the post before rolling away from goal to end Pool's promotion hopes.

But while fans were still trying to come to terms with the despair of Whaddon Road, Turner insisted Pool will be celebrating in a year's time.

"We have the team there, the squad is there. There will be one or two minor adjustments and I think nine out of ten managers in the Third Division will be very wary of Hartlepool next season.

"We have shown that we are a very good footballing team. We play good football, score lots of goals and I'm sure it will get us out of this division.

"Preparing for the new season started on Tuesday night. We have a few players out of contract who need sorting out. The chairman and I sat down a few weeks ago and we know we have a squad capable of getting us out of this division.

"Everyone contributed to one of the best performances that I have seen from this side - I can take great pride from the game.

"I am not down at all after Tuesday night. We gave a magnificent performance in a high-pressure game and were so unfortunate to be beaten.

"We have played 3-5-2 away from home in the last few weeks and no-one has been capable of competing with us.

"We have players here capable of playing in the Second Division and we will be playing in the Second Division within 12 months.''

Turner had words of comfort for Humphreys, who left the field in tears after his miss.

"We had worked on penalties, but when you have an intimidating crowd behind the goal and there's the pressure of the game, anything can happen. Who knows what goes through the minds of players in that situation?

Read more about Hartlepool here.