Martin Scott will create history tomorrow as the first to manage Hartlepool United in a major final. Sports Editor Nick Loughlin caught up with the former Sunderland defender, who was ready to walk away from the game when he left Wearside

FOR anyone in football who has encountered Martin Scott, it's hard to imagine that he once fell out of love with The Beautiful Game.

Tomorrow, as he leads his Hartlepool United side out at the Millennium Stadium - and perhaps into the Coca-Cola Championship - the love affair is stronger than ever.

Pool's caretaker boss is as devout and meticulous as any student when it comes to learning and watching the game. No stone, no tactic or preparation will be left unturned ahead of the biggest day in Pool's history.

Five years ago the story couldn't have been any different.

Dejected after being freed by Sunderland following months of painstaking rehab to return from a broken leg, the no-nonsense left-back, after an aborted comeback with Bradford, had seen enough.

Football - and then Sunderland boss Peter Reid - dealt him a harsh hand.

Staying in football was the last thing on his mind.

"I broke my leg on January 2, 1999 and had 18 months of rehab,'' he said.

"I was out of contract. I got back for the last two reserve games of the season and I felt I deserved a new contract at Sunderland, but Reidy didn't offer me one.

"We fell out on that issue. He's got his opinion and I've got my opinion.

"I signed a three-year contract for Bradford the year they went into the Premiership. I had an ankle scan and the surgeon spotted a problem.

"I said to (boss) Paul Jewell that if I broke down in pre-season I would walk away and that's what happened.

"That allowed Jewell to go and sign Andy Myers from Chelsea. I walked away and was out of work - the contract was scrapped.

"I went home and tried to get the operation I needed which was a total reconstruction of my left ankle, three operations later I didn't get back.''

From there, Scott joined the group tagged "ex-professional footballer" and, like so many before him, pondered what was to come.

"I looked to go into property full-time, but that didn't materialise much because I realised I need football,'' he said.

"When I retired from football, I contemplated getting out the game completely.

"I was disillusioned with the game and how I had been treated. I was down at the time and had fallen out with the game completely.

"I looked at where my life was going to go and realised I couldn't go without it. It's like a drug.

"They way things went I felt I could have been looked after better by Sunderland, but it's all a learning curve in the management side.

"What I will say is that if it happens to a player under me, I know how to deal with it.''

While Scott sullenly mused over his future, another former Sunderland man spotted his potential.

Chris Turner had not been long in charge at Hartlepool. At the time, there was little sign of the success that was to come at Victoria Park.

And while Scott may have been working in the world of property, a chance viewing led to a whole new chapter.

Turner admitted: "I saw him on television and he wasn't playing any more. I saw someone who wanted desperately to stay in the game and who had played at the top level, with plenty of experience.

"He came in and did a very good job with the youth set-up. I'm delighted for him how things have worked out.''

It was the first step along the road that leads tomorrow to the Millennium Stadium.

As Pool play on the biggest stage they have ever reached, Scott admitted: "I thank Chris Turner for giving me a chance at the club as youth team coach and I took to it straight away.

"To be honest, I was never happy as youth team coach, I thought it might take four, five years at that level but I want to progress.

"I did that and went from youth team coach, to reserve team coach and assistant manager and now first-team manager.

"It has gone exactly to plan, how I wanted it to and at the right time.

"When Chris Turner left it wasn't the right time for me. I applied for it for the experience, Mike Newell got the job.

"When he left I applied again and felt I had a chance. The chairman thought otherwise and I totally respected his decision.

"Now I've been assistant and now caretaker, my career has taken care of itself whatever happens after this weekend.''

Stage by stage, Scott's career has moved forward at Victoria Park.

From acting assistant coach to caretaker manager in Cardiff, Scott's level of influence at Victoria Park has been on the rise over the last five years.

Despite twice missing out on the manager's job - surely he won't for a third time whatever happens tomorrow - Scott hasn't let it affect him.

The Neale Cooper and Scott double act was as popular as anything Victoria Park has ever seen.

He said: "When Mike Newell came here I helped him and learned so much, then went back to the youth team and didn't have a problem with that because I was still learning.

"Then the two years I've been involved with Neale have been a pleasure. The reason why we got on so well as a partnership was because he allowed me to be so hands-on.

"And for someone to allow that to happen, when he didn't know me as a person or a character and who applied for the job, deserves a lot of praise.

"What you can do is totally trust me, no matter who you are.

"And Neale knew that, he allowed me to do a lot as he overlooked it all and he was comfy with that and the club progressed.''

As youth team coach, Scott's reputation blossomed as he took Pool's youngsters to Old Trafford for an FA Youth Cup tie.

His side lost 3-2 in extra-time, despite twice leading, and the name of Martin Scott was etched on the minds of fans.

From Old Trafford to the Millennium Stadium, Scott has managed at the best of them.

Some of his players have followed and he will cut a proud figure in South Wales tomorrow when the likes of Antony Sweeney and Matty Robson take the field after coming through the junior set up.

"There's a lot of players who appeared at Old Trafford for me who are now in the first team squad, which shows a lot about how they have progressed,'' he said.

"All the young lads do things right, they know they have to work hard and be dedicated and a lot of them must have listened to me because they have progressed.

"That game at Old Trafford was a great night and I wouldn't change the way my career has gone.

"Working in the youth set-up has been a pleasure. Working with lads from 15 to 19 when they are growing up is a great thing.

"They have to get in their minds that football is No 1 - not cars, girls or drink.

"Some don't make it, but a lot have and full credit to them.

"I've gone on record as saying the youth set-up wasn't very good and no players were coming through.

"It wasn't working. I had to upset a few people and rock a few boats, but I don't mind doing that because I am confident in what I am doing.

"I helped to develop it and Paul Stephenson has now taken it onto a different level.

"He's brought some good players in and they are now progressing as well.''

A win tomorrow and Pool's progression will be the biggest transformation of them all.