A FRUSTRATED Jim Provett has delivered a crushing blow to Hartlepool United by handing in a transfer request as the play-off push gathers momentum.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper does not feel he has a future at Victoria Park after manager Neale Cooper axed him from the starting line-up at Colchester United on Saturday.

It was the second time this season that Provett, who has been at the club since he was 15, has been dropped for Greek shot-stopper Dimi Konstantopoulos and on the first occasion he spent nearly five months out of league action.

But Provett, likely to be on the bench for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night, is in no mood to hang around this time and he put a request in writing to the board on Tuesday to show his disgust at the way he has been treated.

The Trimdon-born keeper has another year to run on his existing deal, while the club have an option of retaining him for a further year if they are happy with his contribution.

It seems Pool, who have had a similar request from defender Michael Nelson on the table since November, are unlikely to agree and would demand a fee for a player who attracted attention from other clubs last season.

That was his first full campaign, after making a superb debut at Sheffield Wednesday, when his penalty-saving heroics helped Pool progress in the Carling Cup, and Provett claimed two of the club's player-of-the-year awards last May.

It was that sort of form which helped Cooper's side clinch a place in the League One play-offs while it also alerted Championship side Sheffield United.

But, instead of jumping ship and joining the Blades, Provett chose to stay in the North-East and show a little loyalty to the manager who handed him his big chance in the game.

The young keeper's agent, Garry Thornburn, admitted his player has been forced into taking this action despite wanting to stay and help Pool become a Championship side.

"Jim needs to play football and he feels when something goes wrong he is being made the scapegoat," said Thornburn. "He just wants to play football and it's unfair on him.

"Jim could have gone to play for a Championship club last season but wanted to show the faith to the manager, Neale Cooper, and his assistant, Martin Scott, that they showed in him when he got the chance."

Former boss Chris Turner was the man to hand Provett his first senior contract but it was Cooper who gambled by playing the inexperienced youngster in the first team at the start of last season, when Anthony Williams was dropped.

He loves playing for Pool and has been delighted to have played a part in transforming the club into a League One force over the past two years.

Provett, brought up in the region and now living in Billingham, has always enjoyed a good relationship with the supporters and would be disappointed to leave if a move does materialise.

However, with 70 appearances behind him, he does realise that a new employer is likely to be the best way of becoming a first-team regular again.

Read more about Hartlepool here.