HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner last night admitted the chance to sign Neil Aspin was too good an opportunity to pass.

The experienced defender was surprisingly released by Darlington last week with six months of his contract remaining - and Turner moved swiftly to secure his services to bolster his side's chances of staying in the top seven and securing a play-off berth.

"As soon as I heard the he had left Darlington, straight away I thought 'yes, he'll do a good job for us','' said Turner. "We have three centre-halfs playing very well at the moment, but Neil gives us some experienced cover in that position.

"Other clubs were desperate to sign him, but he hasn't come here for the financial side of things - it's because he feels we can give him some success.

"Darlington made a decision to release him and we are only too pleased to jump in.''

Aspin - who went to the same Gateshead school as Paul Gascoigne and Steve Stone - spent ten seasons at Port Vale, making almost 350 appearances, after turning out over 200 times for Leeds.

He moved to Feethams on a free transfer in the summer of 1999 and was a regular as Quakers reached the play-offs last season at the expense of Pool.

This season he made 27 appearances for Gary Bennett's side before his shock release last week, a move that angered fans and led to the suporters chanting his name during last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield.

But Turner was only to pleased to offer a lifeline to the 36-year-old, who has signed a contract until the end of the season.

"Neil is experienced, good in the air, eats the right things, keeps himself fit and I am sure he will be a good acquisition,'' added Turner.

"He has been playing regularly this season and still has a lot of football left in him. He was only too pleased to be given the chance to carry on playing.

"He will start off on the bench at Barnet on Saturday, but he is like other players at the club - waiting desperately for a chance.''

"We are doing well at the moment, but we cannot stand still and if players who I know can strengthen the squad become available and I think they can improve things, then we will try and get them.

"It was similar when Mark Tinkler became available and once again, IOR and the chairman have backed me 100 per cent.''

Aspin passed his medical at Victoria Park yesterday morning, but had to make a swift return to Feethams to collect his registration papers before returning to Pool to put pen to paper.

Turner has Graeme Lee and Gary Strodder sidelined through injury at the moment and the Pool chief admitted: "Spike is coming back in a month or two and Strods as well.

" The three central defenders are currently doing very well, but we are only one injury away from a potential problem. We have a few centre-halfs, but not for six weeks or so and until then we don't have any cover in that position.

"Signing Neil could be vital to help us in that period.

"It also puts the right sort of pressure on our central defenders, knowing that there is a player like Neil waiting for an opportunity.''

Aspin is the first player to move directly from Feethams to Victoria Park since defender Harry Wilson made the switch in 1983. Striker Lee Ellison followed suit in 1992, but only for a four-game loan period.

l Turner is hopeful an improvement in the Victoria Park pitch is imminent. The surface during Saturday's draw with Carlisle resembled a mud bath and the Pool chief said: "We had a pitch consultant in to look at things and we had a chat with the groundsman.

"We haven't a home game for a couple of weeks and hopefully that will give us time to put it right.''

Today's reserve game with Notts County at Victoria Park is unlikely to go ahead.

l Pool fans get the chance to air their views with Turner at a talk-in at the Corner Flag tonight from 7.30pm