NEW Hartlepool United manager Craig Hignett is determined to repay the faith invested in him.

Pools chairman Gary Coxall handed Hignett his first managerial post on Wednesday evening, when he was appointed manager after Ronnie Moore was axed.

Pools lie in a precarious position, third bottom of the Football League, but hope Hignett’s enthusiasm and infectious nature can rub off on the players.

After losing 2-1 at home to Stevenage on Tuesday evening, Pools now face Yeovil at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Hignett admitted at this afternoon’s press conference at Victoria Park: “I’m so delighted to be given an opportunity here and I have to thank the chairman for having a bit of faith in me – he made it clear I was his number one and I have to repay his faith.

“I first heard yesterday afternoon, about four o’clock asking if I would go in for a chat and I listened to the chairman and was really impressed with his ideas, his vision for the club, how he wanted to grow it. He wanted a clear identity – and it’s all I ever wanted to hear. It’s a perfect fit.’’

Hignett left his assistant boss post under Colin Cooper at Victoria Park in March 2014 to move to Middlesbrough but left his post last season.

Since then he’s worked in the media, and waited patiently for a managerial post.

He admitted: “My phone had started going again, in football terms, after it has been quiet so people have been talking about me again. I had two successful jobs as an assistant and felt I was ready for the top job.

“You just need someone with a bit of bottle to say ‘give him a go’. People say he’s not experienced, so you go for experience – and that’s someone who has been there before, been sacked, had a chance.

“Why not give it to someone who quite clearly knows what he is doing, but has never managed before?

“Not everyone is cut out to be a football manager – I didn’t know I was cut out to be a football manager until I was an assistant. Then I saw what the manager had to put up with and I thought I could put up with that.

“Time will tell. Results go well and you are a favourite, not so well and it’s a tough life.’’

Pools have back to back home games to come, with Notts County visiting on Tuesday after Yeovil.

Hignett, who will appointed ex-Boro teammate Curtis Fleming as his assistant early next week, added: “We need results, football is a result business and I would not be sat here otherwise.

“The chairman said he is almost asking me to do two jobs – putting something in place, a structure for the club to move forward for the future.

“And the most important job is to get us away from where we are now, away from trouble and safe.’’