CHRIS TURNER last night flashed a hand-offs warning to clubs interested in hot-shot midfielder Tommy Miller - and insisted Hartlepool United is no longer a selling club.

As his side head for Blackpool for tomorrow's play-off showdown, Turner vowed his prize asset is going nowhere after another week of Victoria Park transfer speculation.

Middlesbrough are the latest in a long line of higher division clubs reported to be poised to make a move for the 21-goal midfielder - but Turner promised to hang onto the star he has labelled "the best goalscoring midfielder outside of the Premiership."

Pool's record sale is the £300,000 received for Joe Allon from Chelsea in 1991 - and while Miller is talked of in seven-figure terms, Turner revealed he is under no pressure to sell his 22-year-old protg.

"Tommy is a great player and is going to get better,'' said Turner. "Teams might be looking at him but there is a chance of keeping him if we are improving - he likes it here.

"We've got to be realistic about it. We know clubs are watching him and his record of 37 goals in two seasons from midfield proves that.

"Maybe people still think that you can't get good players from Hartlepool. People still stay away because of the club's history. Maybe they are frightened of the place!''

And Turner added: "We are not a selling club any more. Because of IOR we don't have to sell players - and that has come from the chairman. We are always looking to improve the squad rather than sell.''

Miller is unfazed by the constant speculation surrounding his future, and is focused on getting Pool through the play-offs and into the Second Division.

Shotton-born Miller - a mascot when Pool entertained First Division Luton Town in the FA Cup in 1986 - was on the Victoria Park terraces ten years ago when Pool last tasted promotion success, and admitted: "I'm a local lad from just up the road, so I would love to be part of getting promotion here.

"It would be great to go up with the club; they have looked after me from an early age. Of course I would like to give playing at a higher level a go, but we will have to get there first.

"I had all the speculation last season and maybe it affected me a bit; this season I've just tried to concentrate on the job.

"I had quite a few compliments and going on the number of goals they are probably right, but I've just tried to keep my head down.

"Being called the best outside the Premiership is a great compliment from the gaffer. He has helped my game and a lot of the lads here as well. He has turned it around here from going down to going up.

"I'm only 22 but there is a lot of sentiment here for me because the club has been good to me.

"If a team comes in for me from a higher league then we would have to consider it. I don't want to play all my life in the lower leagues, but hopefully I can play at a higher level with Hartlepool.''

Miller added: "It was a real shock to get in the PFA team again this season.

"Last year I got a letter a couple of weeks before the dinner so I knew all about it. This time I wasn't expecting to be in, so it was a massive shock when we sat down and I read I was in it.

"When we got in the play-offs last season it was a bit of a shock and a bonus to get in there.

"Of course it was disappointing to lose to Darlington, but we can learn from that. We have been in the top few since Christmas and hopefully have a few games left.

"Beating them twice in the League is a little bit of a boost, but what happens in the play-offs depends on the day.

"As a team we started off slowly, but on our day we are more of a match for anyone in this division.''

Miller helped Pool to a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road last September and admitted: "That was one of the best I have scored. I was about 40 yards out and saw the keeper off his line and it bounced over him.''

While clubs cast envious eyes towards Miller, Turner's achievement in transforming Pool from relegation candidates to promotion contenders in two years has not gone unnoticed.

Turner and right-hand man Colin West signed new contracts earlier this season to extend their stay at Victoria Park and after steering Pool into the play-offs for the second season in a row, he insisted: "My future is here.

"I enjoy working for the club and the chairman. Now we have to continue the improvement. I have spoken to Dario Gradi at Crewe about how he has developed the club over the years and that is what we have to aim for.

"A good youth policy is important to this club. We have to improve facilities and try and bring more young players through.

"We know that we have to get a training ground of our own and have our own facilities. We are trying to find somewhere in the town with the council.''

Pool have done the double over Steve McMahon's side this season, with a 2-1 triumph at Bloomfield Road before a 3-1 Victoria Park victory in February. But despite that six-point haul, Turner is expecting the toughest of tests tomorrow.

"We've had two great games this season - we have come out on top but they could have gone either way. We both play attractive football. I think that Steve McMahon was a bit surprised by the division at the start of the season because teams do try and play football.

"The days when clubs had a big centre-forward on the end of everything are long gone.''

Turner's only injury doubt is Kevin Henderson who is suffering from a groin strain. He sat out last Saturday's win over Cardiff and trained yesterday, but Turner will leave it to tomorrow before deciding if his 18-goal front man will be involved.