IT was under John Hughes that Colin Nish enjoyed some of his best football. If bookies are to be believed the pair could be reunited at Hartlepool United.

Following the removal of Mick Wadsworth from his post as head coach on Tuesday, Pools are about the start the process of recruiting a manager.

Hughes, led Hibs to the Europa League in 2009/10, before leaving shortly afterwards. From then on, following the appointment of Colin Calderwood, Nish's time at Easter Road was marked.

So he swopped the SPL for League One and a new challenge during the summer.

But he won't be at Brentford this afternoon for Micky Barron's first game as caretaker boss. The striker is sidelined after needing knee surgery last month and hopes to be back over the Christmas programme.

Pools last home win - and indeed their last goals from open play at Victoria Park - came on September 17. That day Nish was enjoying his best day for the club, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Bury.

"You see all different teams here and it's a nice change. You can play against a team in Scotland and they know what you're going to do even when you don't!" said Nish.

"The manager leaving was a surprise, to be honest, but obviously some people are not happy with our home form. It's one of those ones that you wish you could have done something to help him keep his job because he was nice enough to bring me here.

"I've been injured recently and, while I'm not saying I would definitely have helped to save him, it would have been good to be able to try.

"We had a great start to the season and he's probably suffering from that - our expectations went up and the crowds went up but we've not had good home form.

"It's similar to what happened at Hibs. Mixu (Paatelainen) signed me and I was one of his players, then he went. All you can do is try and impress the new manager."

Hughes was instantly linked with the job in the Scottish media and remains second favourite for the post behind Dave Penney.

There won't be a rush within the club to appoint a new chief, with chairman Ken Hodcroft starting the process next week.

Barron, assisted by Ritchie Humphreys this afternoon, could still be in control for next weekend's home game with Colchester.

Nish will be closer to a return next weekend to boost striking options and he admits life in the North-East has taken some getting used to.

He became a father for the first time shortly after moving south and admitted: "It's taken me a wee while to settle in and having the baby was a big change for me.

"At first, I didn't realise where Hartlepool was and couldn't believe it was so close to Scotland. It's probably the best location for me. I stay in Durham, so it's only a couple of hours up the road home and it's a very nice area and a good place to stay.

"The travelling to away games isn't the best, but you get used to it. I had to try it and I've managed to come to England and stay near family.

"There's not much difference in the standard. You are playing against different players and at different stadiums, which is something I always wanted to try. I would hate to have retired and not gone to England."

He added: "I'm still in the top ten goalscorers in the SPL, and if I score a couple more I go above Chris Sutton and Stevie Crawford. I was thinking that I'd like to move up a couple of places last year, but I didn't play for Hibs in the second part of the season and didn't get the chance to do it."

Nish played alongside former Middlesbrough frontman Kris Boyd at Kilmarnock and started this season alongside Pools' forward Adam Boyd.

The Hartlepool-born striker started the season in style with four goals and Nish said: "Adam is the second Boyd I've played up front with - he's a good player and a goalscorer as well, got a big move from Hartlepool [to Luton] then came back.

"I'm enjoying playing here. I wouldn't say there's a big difference with the SPL. I played against MK Dons and they reminded me of playing against Hibs - they passed us off the park.''