THERE’S been something missing from Dave Jones’ life in recent years; newly-installed as Hartlepool United manager and he’s got it back.

For all the work he’s done away from the dug-out and the coalface of football management, Jones realised that the buzz you get each Saturday afternoon was missing.

As he takes charge of Pools at Newport this afternoon, he revealed it was a sensation he had seven days’ previous.

While Sam Collins took the praise and effectively picked the team for the win over Stevenage, Jones had his say.

"I loved it. It's having that warm glow in your belly again,’’ he mused. “The only time I had it like that was being 3-0 up at half-time with Wolves at Wembley against Sheffield United.

"It was a time I could get out a cigar and enjoy the moment.

"Then two minutes after half-time they get a penalty… it's saved so I can get the cigar out again!

"What I love about football is that whatever time of the day it is, there'll always be something happening. My wife has already noticed my brain has kicked in.’’

Pools’ performance last weekend was much improved and livelier than of late. Goals from Nicky Featherstone and Brad Walker lifted them 11 points ahead of today’s opponents, who are bottom of the table.

"I did get that good feeling last Saturday. It was my team, I was in the club three days but Sam deserved to be there,’’ said Jones. "I said to him if we win 'I'll do the interviews, but if we lose you'll do it!'

"Sam deserved to be there, Sam is part of my staff now. If Sam wants to grow then he'll learn.

"If he can't learn from me after 1,000 games under my belt then who is he going to learn from?

"I'm not frightened to give out my knowledge, if he wants it.

"He's slotted in hand in glove, so has Buster (physio), Stuart (Parnaby).

"If you don't want to slot in, what's going to happen? You are out and if they are not good enough, they are gone.

"But at the moment, I feel a good little team being built and I rely a lot on trust and loyalty.

"I didn't know the other people.

"What I've seen of Sam, he'll be a good asset, why would I want to change that?’’

Jones has also been pleasantly impressed by what he’s seen on the training ground. Pools have trained well all week under the command of Jones, and his assistants Alex Armstrong and Kevin Cooper.

It’s going to be a slow process, but Jones is out to change the outlook of everyone, playing staff and non-playing staff, at the club.

“I’m trying to introduce a culture here so the day I leave there’s a legacy and that’s happened at other clubs I’ve been at. I love doing it,’’ he admitted.

“Anyone can progress in the right culture. All I’m doing it taking away the excuses and every excuse a player can come up with.

“Then all he has to do is cross the white line and perform. If training is right, if preparation is right, then it’s all there for them.

“They have been brilliant in training, we’ve not come in and tried to make wholesale changes, we’ve done it bit by bit and we aren’t confusing anyone. We are trying to help them, slowly introducing a plan. We don’t just train for the sake of training, there’s a reason why. And we educate them on how we want to play so it becomes instant for them.

“They seem to have enjoyed it so far, but it’s been hard for them. The performance was controlled and managed in the right way.’’