PAUL STEPHENSON believes former manager Chris Turner's return to Hartlepool United will help to revitalise the club and bring back great memories of the not-too-distant past.

Turner was yesterday appointed as director of sport with Stephenson told to keep working in a caretaker boss capacity until the end of the season.

For now, at least, the announcement draws a line under the speculation surrounding the identity of Martin Scott's successor at Pool and allows everyone at the club to concentrate on retaining League One status.

When Turner left to take over at hometown club Sheffield Wednesday in November 2002, Stephenson was still part of the playing staff that went on to secure automatic promotion under the management of Mike Newell, although he didn't play.

Stephenson, who had been at Victoria Park for a almost year before the former Sunderland keeper succeeded Mick Tait at the helm, recalls the way Turner masterminded a successful battle against relegation in his first few months in charge in 1999 before claiming three successive play-off spots.

"The fans will all remember the good times that we had at this club when Chris Turner was here," said Stephenson.

"I'm sure the fans really appreciate what he did for the club in the first place.

"He did a fantastic job and was loved by the fans. I'm sure they are all glad to see him back, whatever the role.

"I'm also pleased to see him here and I'm really looking forward to working with him. He actually gave me a two-year contract at 33 when I should have been heading for my pension and it's nice to see him back."

Pool released a statement yesterday morning explaining the whole situation.

But they insisted Turner will not be doing any immediate interviews to reveal his delight at securing the new role.

"In light of all recent events, Chris Turner has been hired as a consultant directly by the club owners Increased Oil Recovery," read the statement. "He will be the director of sport.

"Chris will be responsible for all sports-related issues within IOR and will also overview all aspects of the various football departments.

"This new position will enable Paul Stephenson to continue in his temporary role of overviewing the first team.

"Chris will also assist IOR with the planning and evaluation of other issues, such as the club's overseas participation in football tournaments, pre-season planning, conferences (like Soccerex) and Football League issues. In view of this, no first team manager will be appointed until the end of season."

Now Stephenson, after three games without defeat or conceding a goal, wants to concentrate on ensuring that Pool are playing in the same division next season.

Pool sit just a point above relegation after climbing out of the drop zone over the past ten days and the only direction Stephenson wants to see his team head now is up - starting by beating Doncaster on Saturday.

"It's putting everything to bed now," said the caretaker boss, who is still officially the youth team coach and would not be drawn on whether he would like the job on a permanent basis.

"We want to move on as a football club now and we are looking forward to doing that. The situation is that I've been told to continue what I'm doing and that is what I intend.

"The important thing for us to do is to make sure that this club is still in League One next season.

"We have to climb away from the bottom as quickly as possible and that is something we are more than capable of doing."

* Pool's reserve game with Sheffield United tomorrow has been postponed. The Blades have asked for the game to be called off because of a large number of injuries.

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