LITTLE more than a week into his job as Hartlepool United manager, and Colin Cooper's phone hasn't stopped ringing.

Appointed boss last Friday, the former Middlesbrough coach has a wide-ranging book of football contacts.

And plenty of them have already been in touch with football's newest boss.

Cooper and his assistant Craig Hignett will be able to add to the squad in the coming weeks and months, while there could also be some outgoings as well.

Striker Steve Howard is booked in for talks with the club, with an exit likely. Sheffield Wednesday want to sign him permanently after he impressed the Owls during a short loan stint at the end of last season.

As the club's highest earner, his departure could free up more funds for the management team to play with.

But with goals in short supply in recent seasons, Pools are desperate for more firepower, be it getting Howard into the form he showed at Hillsborough or from outside, and Cooper has cited a club hero as the sort of player he is after.

"Goals have been in short supply here and I heard Joe Allon on the radio the other day and I can't thank him enough for what he said - that's what we need, a new Joe Allon and we will be trying very hard to find one out there,'' he insisted.

"All managers need goals and goalscorers and we have to clever in the market, permanent or loans and that's where our contacts will come into play.''

Cooper has spoken privately to a number of his players, but won't get them all back together until June 24 when they report for pre-season training.

"Having looked through the squad, I know the gaps that need filling and we will try hard to fill them as best we can,'' he added.

"From my point of view, somebody coming into this position as a manager, first-time around, it's been amazing how many calls I've already had from players, friends, managers, coaches and contacts. They all ask what they can do to help and we are very grateful to have that kind of friendship level in football who are keen to help us bounce back.''

He added: "We know what want, I've seen the gaps we need to fill and we have had conversations about individuals and where we will get those individuals from.

"Talks will be on-going. You may have what you consider your stars in the A category and then go down to B, C and D and pick through those lists and hopefully get some good players, and good characters in. We want people who will be ready for hard work.''

Cooper added: "We have a certain budget to play with, it's not huge and we have to be clever in the way we work with it. I have found already that the phone calls will come flooding in and there's an awful lot of people out there who want to help Hartlepool United.

"It might be the loan market, there's a lot of talented young players in the North-East who we could help develop and the big three in the North-East have already expressed an interest in helping the club succeed.

"So we have to tap into that and we have a lot of contacts and friends working in football clubs up and down the country at all levels who want to help.''

Meanwhile, season ticket sales has been on the increase at Victoria Park since Cooper's appointment.

Last weekend, the 1,000 barrier was passed and, now they are close to 1,300.

For the past two campaigns, ticket prices have been pegged back and next season's prices at just £150, while children can pay as little as £50.

The deal still has nearly two months to run with the deadline for the bargain prices arriving on July 26.

It works out at than £7 per game for adults and as little as £2.17 per game for youngsters.

The ticket office is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday and will open on a selection of Saturdays, including this coming weekend, from 9am to 1pm.