NEALE Cooper's Hartlepool United future remains uncertain - but today is unlikely to be his last game in control.

The Pool boss could be on his way to Dundee United this week - but the Arabs' chairman Eddie Thompson last night played down claims today's game at Blackpool would be Cooper's final in charge of Pool.

Former Sunderland defender Gordon Chisholm is in temporary command at Tannadice.

And Thompson last night insisted: "Speculation is all that this is and we were surprised to see that someone's name was at the top of our list - because there is no list.

"Gordon is the man in charge right now, so he's got the best opportunity of anyone. However, we've had a lot of applications, both written and verbal, and they've come not only from Scotland but from people south of the border and Europe as well.

"No-one has been approached yet, and we haven't asked any club about their manager.''

Cooper, who played in Scotland for Aberdeen, Rangers and Dunfermline, and managed Ross County, earlier admitted: "That's a big club. I know they are struggling at the moment, but it's always nice to be linked to other clubs so we'll see what happens.

"I still love Scotland - I'm not lying about that. My children are up there, so there are pros and cons in life and I've got to think about them all together."

Despite being anchored to the bottom of the SPL, the club is bankrolled by Thompson and they are willing to offer an attractive package to the new manager.

The lure of being closer to his family is an added incentive for the Pool boss.

A number of high profile names have already been alerted to the uncertainty at Pool and, with number two Martin Scott also interesting Rotherham United, there would be no shortage of takers if the positions become vacant.

Today Pool go to Bloomfield Road on the back of Good Friday's defeat to Huddersfield at Victoria Park. Pool failed to find the net and fell to their third 1-0 defeat in the last four games.

"We have played a lot worse than we did on Friday and won games,'' said Cooper. "It's frightening because we really could have been three or four up in the first-half.

"We had a few chances and didn't take them - they got one chance and took it. In the second - half I thought the quality in the final third had to be better, it wasn't good enough both from open play and set-plays.

"Eifion took a kick and had to come off, but at least in Boydy we had a first-class replacement to come on.

"It was a shame he had to come off because even thought him and Joel Porter are different types of players and perhaps don't link up as well as Joel and Boydy do, his pace could have caused Huddersfield a lot of problems.''

Cooper added: "Their keeper had a worldy, he made some very good saves to keep us out. We hit the bar twice as well but it wasn't to be.

"It's not as if we had played badly - we played very well but it just wouldn't go for us. Everyone worked hard. We had them in on Saturday for a warm down session, we trained as normal on Sunday to prepare for Blackpool.

"Last year I was embarrassed at Blackpool. It was awful. The boys know that and now it's up to them to bounce back and show a lot of character at a team who are improving.

"They did us a favour last week beating Brentford and that shows they are a decent team.''

Former Sunderland winger Thomas Butler made his Pool debut on Friday and he will be involved again this afternoon as a substitute.

Cooper said: "I put Butler on for the last half hour and he was a plus point. Some players didn't perform - I don't have to name them because they know themselves - and I thought he livened things up a little bit.

"We don't have a natural right winger at the club, he can play on either flank and has quick feet.

"One or two weren't up to their usual standards. A positive was Darren Craddock again, he put some great balls into the box from deep. "But these boys have done ever so well for me again this season and maybe one or two of them can be excused.''

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