BRIAN HONOUR, one of Hartlepool United’s all-time greats, is back at the club.

The former winger, who helped Pools to their second promotion in 1991 and made 384 appearances for the club, has joined the coaching staff on a short-term basis to assist caretaker boss Sam Collins.

He was joint caretaker boss with Paul Baker in 1999 following Mick Tait’s exit and is now joining Collins and Stephen Pears on the club’s Maiden Castle training ground.

Since leaving Pools, Honour has built up a successful football coaching academy and has been employed by the club on matchdays in the hospitality suites.

Collins, who engineered Saturday’s 2-1 win, approached Honour to get him on board andsaid: “Brian knows the club inside out and has vast experience so I am delighted he’s going to come in.

“He knows exactly what the fans want to see out on the pitch and I think his approach to the game is very similar to mine so I think it’s great to have him on board.

“After our brilliant win on Saturday we want to keep on building the momentum and I’m sure having Brian’s coaching knowledge and bubbly personality around the place will help us do that.”

Pools have opted for Honour ahead of Graham Kavanagh to assist while chairman Ken Hodcroft deliberates over the club’s next manager.

Kavanagh was approached last week, but has been overlooked in favour of Honour, who admitted: “I’m like a kid at Christmas to be honest; I’ve been buzzing all over the weekend and not got very much sleep thinking about it over the last couple of nights.

“I’m just looking forward to getting a feel for the place again and being back in professional football for a spell.’’ He added, on the club’s official website: “I’ve certainly been in much worse situations than the one we find ourselves in now – I mean, in 1989 we pretty much needed snookers! Then a certain Cyril Knowles arrived at the club and really turned things around.’’ Pools have extended the loan of Middlesbrough winger Ryan Brobbel.