CHRIS Turner is keeping his vow to secure Hartlepool United's future.

The Pool boss, a former youth team coach at Leicester and Wolves, yesterday signed highly-rated teenager Tony Sweeney on a professional contract until summer 2004.

Sweeney, 17, has been a regular in the Pool squad in recent months and has made two substitute appearances.

And after impressing both Turner and youth coach Martin Scott this season, Turner has moved swiftly to tie down the 17-year-old.

"He's an excellent prospect," said Turner, " I don't want to put too much of a burden on his shoulders, but he has the potential to be the next Tommy Miller. He has the same kind of energy to keep going forward, he scored goals and uses the ball well.

"I expect him to be following the likes of Adam Boyd and Mark Robinson into first team contention. We need to continue bringing youngsters like Tony through into the first team. No-one knows what is going to happen to the finances of second and third division clubs in the next couple of years, so it is vital that we produce our own stars of the future.''

Chairman Ken Hodcroft told the club's AGM last month that the future of the club is in producing its own players - and in Turner he has a manager with a quality track record.

Emile Heskey and Robbie Keane are among the players Turner has nurtured, while a number of Wolves' current squad were coached by Turner as Molineux trainees and Hodcroft said: "Short term outlook and buying players at inflated prices is not the way forward as we have said many times before.

"Chris, his staff and everyone at Hartlepool United are building for the future. Our long-term plans are to have a production line of young talent coming through to the first team. It's the only way forward.''

Meanwhile, striker Tim Parkin is expected back at Pool tomorrow to start a second month's loan from First Division Barnsley.

Read more about Hartlepool here.