HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner is no fan of a winter break - despite his side being forced out of action for a fortnight.

The Pool boss leads his side into action this afternoon for the first time since December 23 after seeing a trio of games frozen off.

Pool's last outing was a 6-1 Victoria Park thumping of Barnet and even though his players have been left kicking their heels after games with Carlisle, Chesterfield and Lincoln fell victim to the weather, Turner is all for festive football.

Scotland's footballers are now putting their feet up for their winter break but as Pool prepare for the visit of struggling Exeter, Turner is loathe to see England follow suit.

"It has been frustrating, I cannot deny that, but there's nothing we can do about it,'' said Turner.

"You cannot beat the weather, especially at this level where there are no covers on pitches or undersoil heating.

"People talk about a winter break but I am not in favour. In the last few years we have had bad weather in February and March and we could have an organised break at this time of the year and then another later on - we do not need a winter break.

"And at this level, we get the biggest crowds of the season at this time of the year so it wouldn't be any good for the club's finances either.

"It was unfortunate that the Lincoln game was off, but when we inspected the pitch the referee couldn't even get a key into it. It was frozen solid, then when the thaw set in it was still frozen in some areas and flooded in others.''

Turner has taken training in recent weeks on Seaton Carew beach, as well as the club's former training ground in Peterlee and Newcastle's Maiden Castle facilities with their own Houghall College base flooded.

The Victoria Park surface, however, won't present any problems this afternoon as Pool aim to heap more misery on Noel Blake's side.

Exeter have taken just seven points from a possible 48 and they lie six points ahead of Carlisle at the foot of the table, but the Cumbrians have two games in hand.

Blake has been put under pressure by the south-west media to quit after the 6-1 mauling at Cardiff, but Turner won't be taking the game lightly.

"The players have been excellent and have been working very, very hard in training,'' said Turner. "There's no danger of complacency among anyone at the club.

"The fans may turn up expecting to see some good football and we will try our best to do that, but we have to win the game.

"We all know what happened last time we played and that win was coming for a long, long time. It's a result we have waited for.

"There have been many games when it has been one or two when it should have been four or five.

"You sometimes get a win when you least expect it and maybe that's what their players and fans are thinking. Once you get a win then you can start a little run to pull away.''

Turner will stick with the same team that beat Barnet and Halifax before the enforced lay-off.

"I said to the players this morning that because they are playing well the team picks itself and that makes my job the easiest in the world,'' said Turner.

"Everyone is confident, but I am looking out because as soon as anyone slips or lowers their standards I have players on the bench who are desperate for a chance.''

Blake is ready to make his first start since mid-April and Turner said: "If one thing is sure it is that he will get his players fired up.''

Exeter this week appointed former Darlington midfielder Ken Furphy as technical consultant to take some of the pressure off Blake.

He has not taken charge of a professional club since 1981, when he returned from a six-year spell in the doomed North American Soccer League.

Blake has kicked former Crewe man Francis Tierney out of St James' Park and he admitted: "It does appear that every man and his dog wants a piece of my skin at the moment. It seems that, apart from a hard core of supporters, the whole world is against the club.

"We have under-achieved and never more so than last week against Cardiff. That was the worst result of my career and I hope it never happens again.''

l Pool have re-arranged their trip to Carlisle for Tuesday, February 13 and will go to Chesterfield on Tuesday, January 16