HARTLEPOOL United's hunt for a new manager has begun.

After relegation to League One was confirmed at the weekend, Pool have indicated that a new appointment will be made, after Paul Stephenson took temporary command in February.

He was unable to halt the slide and Pool chairman Ken Hodcroft is lining up his fifth permanent appointment since taking over in 1997.

Former boss Chris Turner has returned to the club as Director of Sport, but he won't be considered for the post. He will, however, play a key role in making sure the right appointment is made.

Brian Little, who last week left Tranmere, Peter Beardsley and Paul Hart are among the names already linked. If Stephenson isn't appointed permanently, he could be involved in the new-look coaching team.

A statement on the club website read: "The club are now welcoming applications for the vacant manager's post." The closing date is Friday, May 19.

Skipper Ritchie Humphreys won two awards at the club's player of the year presentation.

He took both the players' and supporters' association honours - he also won the latter in 2003 - and vowed his side will do all they can to bounce back from relegation.

"The awards weren't expected at all, it's been a disappointing season with nothing to celebrate, '' said Humphreys, who ended the season by making his 230th consecutive league appearance for the club.

"The players are still really down and it will take us a few weeks to get over it.

"We will all look at ourselves as individuals and ask if we have done enough this season. Hopefully in 12 months we can be celebrating something.'' He added: "I'm very honoured and very proud that the fans voted for me - and to have the players nominate me is a great accolade.

"A lot of the squad have been together for a long time, five or six years, and we have built up something special in that time.

"We've had a lot more highs than lows in recent years and we all want another high next season.'' Micky Nelson took the away player of the year award, with Matty Robson named the young player.

Meanwhile, Rotherham's CVA was passed yesterday - after a meeting of creditors lasted little over five minutes.

Last Friday they postponed the meeting, which saw creditors receive just a penny of every pound owed (the club owed £5.3m) until yesterday, which means that the Football League penalty of a tenpoint deduction won't kick in until next season.

That ruling keeps the Millers out of the bottom four, but Pool are angry that misdemeanors of this season won't be punished until the next campaign.

Pool have expressed their disappointment to the Football League and Stephenson said: "I think it is scandalous if they get away with getting points taken off next season because they have postponed a meeting a day before the last game of the season.

"It makes a mockery of the system and the League and it will be setting a precedent.

"It will be interesting to see what happens. I think the club should be looking at which avenues are available to it because all the others have run their clubs properly."

"It happened to Chesterfield when I was playing and the points came off that season."