THE decision by the FA to punish Third Division leaders Chesterfield may well have some clubs in the promotion chase popping champagne corks, but for Hartlepool boss Chris Turner the FA's actions are a harsh blow to Spireites' manager Nicky Law.

The South Derbyshire side could face a points deduction or even relegation after an FA inquiry found them guilty of financial irregularities.

But any thought that Pool's promotion bid can benefit from Chesterfield's misfortunes was dismissed by Turner.

He said: "Nicky and his coaching staff have worked hard to build up a fantastic team that are without doubt the best in the division.

"But it looks like that could well be taken away following the FA's inquiry which is a shame for the Chesterfield players and coaches."

Speaking before today's crucial home match with Mansfield, 'manager of the month' Turner insisted that his side will not be looking for any favours from the FA.

"We can't rely on whatever action the FA make, all we have to do is to concentrate on our own form," he added.

"We are in tremendous form at the moment and I want to keep that going.

"We can't expect to win every match from now until the end of the season but all we can do now is to pick up as many points as we can and hopefully finish in the top seven."

Hartlepool face the prospect of climbing into the top three by 4.45pm today, but Turner says that it is where the club finish at the end of the season that counts.

He said: "Looking at the table at this stage is pointless; but if we finish in the top three at the end of the season then that will certainly be an excellent achievement."

Turner received a double injury boost ahead of today's clash with 14th-placed Mansfield.

Both Lee Fitzpatrick and Sam Shilton are expected to be fit after recovering from respective groin and hamstring problems, and Pool could also equal a ten-year benchmark if they take any points from today's match with the visiting Stags.

The club are currently 13 games without defeat, one away from a record set by Alan Murray in 1991, but the modest Hartlepool boss has words of warning for his in-form squad.

"Mansfield are still not out of the running for a play-off place and will be no pushovers," he said.

"In Chris Greenacre they have a very good goalscorer and an exceptional centre-forward."

Meanwhile, Hartlepool number two Colin West has praised trialists Gordon Simms and Andy Brownrigg following their performances in a reserve team cup match against Grimsby.

Pool's reserves were beaten 3-0, but West admitted that both defender Simms and midfielder Brownrigg did their chances of permanent moves no harm at all after impressing during the Avon Insurance Cup tie.

l Chesterfield boss Nicky Law maintained the Spireites would fight Football League charges of irregular payments to players which have threatened the Third Division side's promotion dream.

The runaway leaders have been harged with breaches of Football League regulations following a detailed investigation into their finances.

But Law claims the allegations are unfounded and that an appeal would be lodged.

''We have allegedly received some out-of-contract payments which obviously we are denying because it isn't true,'' Laws revealed to SkySports.com TV.

''We will wait till it's official and then we shall be appealing against it.''

There was no confirmation from the Football League as to the number of charges brought against Chesterfield as a club, although the Spireites were expecting to face four such charges.

A Football League statement revealed: ''The charges relate to breaches of player transfer regulations, irregular payments and the under-reporting of gate receipts.

''In addition, individual charges are also being made against a number of officials and employees of Chesterfield FC.''

Chesterfield deny the charges, but they are certainly serious enough to ensure the possibility of them being denied a promotion place, deducted points or even relegated if found guilty. That fate befell Swindon when they were sent down a division in 1990 after another investigation