COLIN COOPER admits there has been interest in striker Luke James – but there has been no concrete offer from either Peterborough or anyone else.

Posh were last week linked with a £750,000 move for the 19-year-old talent, who played in Pools’ 1-0 opening day defeat at Stevenage.

Pre-match talk on Saturday centred about the striker's future and if the game at Stevenage would be his last for Pools.

But Cooper, who lost Jack Baldwin to Posh for £500,000 on transfer deadline day in January, admitted: "All I would say is there has been interest.

"I have spoken with Darren Ferguson and he has not expressed any interest. That doesn't mean he doesn't like him and doesn't mean he doesn't watch him, or hasn't watched him.

"I had a conversation manager to manager with Darren Ferguson and he has not made a bid for Luke James."

Cooper, who said there was no other bids lodged for last season’s top scorer, added: "I had a chat with Darren Ferguson because I felt that other people were making something out of it.

"So I just I phoned him and I asked if there was anything going on?

"He said nothing, nothing as far as he is concerned."

Pools went down at Stevenage on Saturday, falling to a Chris Whelpdale goal on 60 minutes  and he said: “We lost and relied on our goalkeeper too much.

“He made saves and we didn’t protect him enough when he was beaten. We had an honest discussion after the game.

“There will be ebbs and flows and we have enough experience on the pitch now with our new signings especially to get everyone through.

“We will be alright this season. Don’t worry about that. Everyone goes away feeling disappointed about the penalty decision, but if we were good enough to come away with something we would have.’’