CHRIS Turner, Hartlepool United’s former director of sport, has spoken of his regret at leaving the club at the start of the season.

After a proposed investment at Victoria Park failed to happen, Turner planned to take control at Sheffield Wednesday with the same group of Middle East businessmen who were believed to be first prepared to pump cash into Pools’ coffers.

But that too failed to happen, leaving Turner out of work and without a club.

He and chief executive Russ Green quit Victoria Park last August, claiming he had taken the club as far as he could. Green recently returned to the club.

Turner, however, is still looking for a new position.

“I was misinformed and misdirected,’’ he said. “I made a mistake in trusting people. Sheffield Wednesday’s board were hoodwinked by them as well.

“It left me in the lurch – I had burned my bridges at both ends and been left of work.’’ Speaking to The Football Paper, Turner added: “I left Hartlepool on the strength of these investors, but when it came to the crunch the investment wasn’t there.

“This left me in no-man’s land. I was a League One manager at the start of the season and we’d just beaten Sheffield United in the League Cup.

“The team has kicked on with the players I signed and they are in the top ten now.

“Looking back, the opportunity of Sheffield Wednesday was so great that I took the decision I did. Unfortunately it has backfired and left me in the cold.’’ Turner is keen to get back in football. He was a successful youth team boss at Wolves before taking over as Pools boss in 1999. He has spoke to a number of clubs, but the spectre of the oil-rich backers shadows his ambition.

“I get asked if I will bring these investors along,’’ he said. “But I am certainly not looking to buy a club, I’m only interested in getting back as coach of manager.

“The whole thing has left a sour taste. You make decisions, some are good, some are bad. In this case I left a club (Pools) I enjoyed working with.

“I have spoken since to the chairman (Ken Hodcroft) and there is no animosity.’