CHRIS Turner has revealed that planning for next season at Hartlepool United is well underway.

And last night it was confirmed that leading scorer and crowd favourite Joel Porter is among those he will have to replace.

Now into his sixth season at Victoria Park, the Australian has agreed a three-year deal with Gold Coast United.

He was set for a return home last summer, but Pools took up a final year’s option on his contract to keep him at the club and ensure a move to Wellington Phoenix didn’t happen.

But he couldn’t pass up the chance to join the A-League’s new boys and, in an interview in the match programme for today’s game with Leeds, he admitted: “It’ll be a little bit weird, but I’m looking forward to my last appearance at Victoria Park.

“It’s an important game for us and personally I want to put on a good show on my last home game for the club.

“It would be a great send-off for me and my family if I can contribute to the game.’’ Boss Chris Turner paid tribute to the 30-year-old who has scored 23 times this season and has 65 goals in 208 outings since making his debut against Swindon in 2003.

“He has been a magnificent servant, scored some superb goals and made an enormous contribution to the club,’’ admitted Turner.

“He is going to take some replacing now he is going back to Australia. My opinion is that he is selling himself short, but it is more of a lifestyle decision than a football decision and you cannot argue with that fact.’’ Turner is likely to have Rune Lange back for pre-season training in the hope that the Norwegian will prove his fitness after making just three outings for the club before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The forward netted a classy goal in the loss at MK Dons and Turner is a big fan of the striker who once moved for £4.5m.

Daniel Nardiello, with two goals in two games, could be another permanent option after impressing on loan from Blackpool, while Pools will also have James Brown back for next season.

While Turner is only officially in command until the end of the season, his fulltime appointment is likely to be rubber-stamped in the coming weeks.

And, once confirmed as manager for the second time around, Turner will turn his attentions to rebuilding.

First up, and Pools need at least one more point this season to make sure they stay in League One.

Leeds are at Victoria Park this afternoon, before Pools go to Bristol Rovers next weekend to wrap up what has been an unflattering campaign.

“We have been looking at a lot of teams and players and the squad has not been good enough and we need to strengthen for League One next season,’’ admitted Turner.

“We have a thorough scouting system across Britain and the Nordic countries and we will utilise that during the summer months.’’ Pools are four points above the drop zone after last week’s vital win at Yeovil and Turner added: “We need a couple of other teams not to win and then it is highly unlikely we will be relegated. I explained to the players after the Yeovil game last week that we want to end the season with six points and two clean sheets.

“Let’s worry about no-one else but ourselves and lets perform for ourselves and no-one else.

“There’s always a high proportion of teams who can be relegated at the end of the season and this is no exception.

“With our record at home this season I would want to play Leeds. There’s a buzz about it and it’s better for the players – hopefully it will be a good game, they normally are against Leeds.

“You are up against the extra bit of quality against Leeds and there’s no getting away from the fact it is going to be a difficult game for us.’’ Leeds have little riding on their last two games, today and against Northampton next weekend, after already securing their place in the play-offs.

But any suggestions that boss Simon Grayson will be fielding a much-changed side to ease their way into the end of season shake-up are wide of the mark.

“Everybody will assume that I’m going to make big changes on Saturday – rest seven or eight players and bring in seven or eight others – but I’ve already made it clear that I want to finish the season strongly,’’ he admitted.

“It’s a chance to try one or two things if I want to but Hartlepool need the points and we’ll prepare for a hard game. We’re professional and want to keep our momentum going.”