PAUL MURRAY, the former Hartlepool United midfielder, was yesterday a big mover in the bookmakers’ market to become the club’s next manager.

Currently assistant boss at Oldham, Murray has long held ambitions to be a manager and openly spoke of his carrer path when he played for Pools from August 2013 to January 2013, making over 100 appearances.

He left under John Hughes and was soon appointed assistant boss at Boundary Park to Lee Johnson, a role he has been in since.

Betvictor.com last night installed him as 5/4 clear favourite, in from 33s.

Pools chairman Ken Hodcroft is starting the process of finding a replacement for Colin Cooper, almost three weeks after he walked away.

Sam Collins was in charge for Tuesday’s woeful defeat at Accrington, a result which dumped Pools back in the bottom two. The performance didn’t do his chances of getting the job any good.

Midfielder Tommy Miller played in midweek and admitted the squad are playing for their futures, with any potential new boss expected to make changes.

“We can’t afford mistakes, we have to give it our lot. We are playing for our futures,’’ he said ahead of Saturday’s game at Cambridge.

“If a new manager does come in they might want to bring in five or six.

“Sam, I’m sure, will be looking to bring in players as well, because there is no doubt about it we need strengthening.

“We are losing football matches and it is a terrible feeling that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

“It is so frustrating, there was nothing in the game but we are conceding bad goals and it is embarrassing, to be fair.

“It isn’t just the defenders either, it is right the way through the team and we all need to do better. To go 2-1 down in the way that we did, isn’t good enough. A free header from a set piece, it deflated us.”

He added: “Sam has prepared the team, he did everything right and can’t have done any more.

“Training had gone well but we have to perform come match day and we are not. Hence the reason we are losing matches, it is not good enough.”

Collins admitted his side lacks mental strength, questioning the make up of his players after the defeat.

After his fourth game in caretaker charge, he said: “I wasn’t happy at all at half-time.

“I was trying to question people’s mentality, wanting them to throw their head in where it hurts, to get their eye cut or their nose broke - that is what you have to do.

“I wanted us to be positive and have a go at people, but it was just not good enough.

“We are not giving ourselves a chance in games.

“We work hard on being well organised and hard to beat and I watch them in training every day and think ‘I fancy us come the game’.

“Then, whether it is mental toughness or what, we need to stop giving goals away like we are.”

Midfielder David Harrison, signed by Cooper, is back at Middlesbrough after a month on loan. He was twice an unused substitute.