TWELVE months ago and Scott Harrison had a very uncertain future to ponder.

Out of favour at Hartlepool United as a new manager found a winning formula without him, the centre-half ended up joining the ranks of out of work footballers last summer.

Out of contract and recovering from a foot injury, Harrison could have been looking at alternative employment.

Instead, he’s made the most of his second chance, and has just signed a fresh contract at Pools.

He’s established at the heart of Dave Jones’ back four, and has started the last 19 League Two games.

"It was a down at the end of last season, but it has picked up, I feel I am playing pretty well. I feel pretty good,’’ he reflected.

"I was released, maybe it was a kick up the backside

"I feel I have progressed from there and become a better player for it.

"I am trying to keep the same mentality, work-rate, I just hope I don't have one of those slumps again.

"Obviously it's a big change from last year.

"Then I didn't know what I was going to do, what would happen to me, but it's now a relief to have it done.’’

Harrison, 23, recently chalked up his 100th appearance for Pools, after he signed from Sunderland where he moved after Darlington’s collapse in 2012.

In recent weeks he’s formed an unlikely centre-half partnership with Brad Walker, the midfielder dropping into the back four with ease.

The pair have hit it off and developed a good understanding.

Walker has only appeared at the back in the last eight games, filling in after Matthew Bates went off injured at Luton last month.

And Harrison admits nurturing Walker into the role hasn’t been a major part of his job.

"I don't need to act as the senior pro because he has absorbed the role so well. I don’t need to help him out or coach him because he knows what he's doing,’’ he admitted.

"I feel I am the most experienced in the back four so that could be a reason for my improved performances.

"But Brad has not surprised me the way he has settled in.

"He's played there in training and always said he was the John Stones of the back four!

"The amount of ability he has is unbelievable - maybe the composure he has has surprised me.

"We listen to each other and give each other help and advice.

"He's one of those players who does not like being shouted at in the wrong way.

"I always try to encourage him, if there is a mistake I will try to encourage him, pick him up, he listens and appreciates that part of it.

"It's a bit of a switch in roles for me but I am enjoying it.’’

Pools face Portstmouth at home on Saturday, after losing 2-1 at Blackpool last weekend.

Jones’ side didn’t deserve to lose, but Harrison said: "I defended the basics well, won headers, but feel I could have done better, little things, because the result was disappointing.

"We scored, all the lads were buzzing and the fans were going mental but the scoring straight away just killed it.

"It put us on the back foot.

"There were chances there for us,

"I don't think they were much better than us, or better than us at all.’’

Backed by almost 1,700 travelling fans, Harrison praised the supporters and said: "They were proud of the performance and gave us a great reception.

"They saw the hard work we put in but I still feel we let them down massively.

"The majority of the season our mindset away from home has been one of losing .

"But we know now we are capable of going away from home and winning.

"We won at Cambridge but in the other games I don't think our performances are being reflected in the results.

"Recently we've started sloppily and finished the better team.

"Blackpool came out well but when we got the ball down and played I thought we looked the better team.’’

Pools have reduced ticket prices for the home game with Barnet on Saturday, April 22 to

£10 for adults and £5 concessions in all areas of the stadium, both in advance and on the day.

“We know that our supporters are at the heart of everything we’re trying to achieve at this club and we want as many as possible to get behind us,” explained Chairman Gary Coxall.

“It’s important that we have as much backing as we can during the run-in to the end of the season and hopefully this offer will help us attract a bumper crowd.

“Generally, our home form has been good in recent times so we want as many people as possible to come along and support the lads to another important result.”