STAND-IN boss Martin Scott is aiming to use tomorrow's play-off decider with Bournemouth as his application to become the permanent manager at Hartlepool United.

It is no secret that Scott has done the large share of the work on the training field during Neale Cooper's near two-year reign and that has not gone unnoticed by chairman Ken Hodcroft.

Following Cooper's shock departure this week, the former Sunderland defender will be doing his utmost to prove himself a more than capable successor.

Former Pool manager Chris Turner, who appointed Scott as youth team manager at the club, remains a leading contender for the role but Scott has the perfect chance to prove his worth at Dean Court tomorrow.

Scott travels today with his players to the south coast, where a point against Bournemouth tomorrow will clinch a place in the play-offs for Pool.

But defeat will see the Cherries head into the end of season League One lottery at the Victoria Park outfit's expense.

Scott, who was close to taking charge of first team affairs when Mike Newell was sacked nearly two years ago, is relishing the opportunity to take the step into management.

"We've all got a job to do. That's myself, the staff and the players. We have a major game on Saturday and we need a point," he said.

Scott took training with his players yesterday morning and made sure the whole squad are firmly focused on the task in hand tomorrow.

The players were completely stunned by Cooper's departure at such a stage of the campaign, but Scott remains focused on trying to make sure their attentions remain firmly on retaining sixth spot come Saturday night.

"We have a great set of players. They deserve to be in the top six, they deserve to be in the play-offs but we have to earn it. Hopefully we can perform better than we did last week (a 3-1 home defeat to Walsall) and get the result," said Scott.

The reasons behind Cooper parting company with Pool remain very much clouded in mystery, with chairman Hodcroft continuing to keep a close counsel on events.

It has become clearer that Cooper has not lined himself up to take over at Dunfermline Athletic in the summer, although the Pars are interested in him now he has become available.

And it would certainly seem strange if he has left Pool on football grounds alone, with the club on the verge of the most successful season in its history.

Promotion to the Championship via the play-offs would be the first time Pool have reached that division since its formation and Cooper can take great heart from his part in that, making the timing of his departure even more surprising.

Hodcroft said: "People don't have to know everything we do and why we do it. People then have to decide whether they want to follow a club that hangs its dirty washing in front of everyone."

A confidentiality clause is believed to be the reason why neither the club nor Cooper has revealed the reasons for his departure.

But Cooper did issue a brief statement to Northern Echo SPORT, in which he said: "I can't really make any comment other than there's no other club involved and I would like to wish Hartlepool Football Club all the best in the future."

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