PLYMOUTH Argyle may wait until the end of the season before trying to persuade Hartlepool United boss Neale Cooper to take over at Home Park.

The Pool board have been bracing themselves for a fight to retain the services of Cooper following the departure of Argyle manager Paul Sturrock to Premiership Southampton recently.

It has emerged that Plymouth have enlisted the outspoken Scot as a prime candidate to succeed Sturrock in the vacant managerial chair.

However, it is believed that the table-topping Pilgrims want to see out the remainder of the campaign with caretaker boss Kevin Summerfield in charge.

That would leave Cooper and his assistant Martin Scott - who would find it difficult to turn their backs on Pool - free to stay and try to ensure a play-off place in Division Two is secured.

Argyle announced yesterday that they are 'inviting applications' for the post and that they have already spoken to a number of people interested in taking over.

Sources in Plymouth suggest Cooper, who has worked wonders with Pool, has a strong chance of getting the job after receiving a glowing reference from close friend Sturrock.

League leaders Plymouth's chairman Paul Stapleton last night admitted that he has discussed the vacant position at the Devon outfit with the departed boss.

"Paul Sturrock has told me that he's had three or four phone calls from people asking about the club and he's told them to get in touch," said Stapleton. The club are in no rush to make an appointment and also linked with the job are former Sunderland assistant coach Steve Cotterill and, surprisingly, Bournemouth's Sean O'Driscoll.

Cooper was installed as Pool boss only last summer when he replaced Mike Newell. But, in his first season managing in English football, the former Ross County chief has won over the Victoria Park faithful by the way he has transformed Pool into genuine play-off contenders.

Victory at Colchester United on Saturday was his side's third successive victory and, with a home game against fellow promotion hopefuls QPR this weekend, there is a sense that the club could achieve that top six finish.

It is that sort of record that has alerted the Pilgrims and it is understood that they would also want Cooper's assistant Scott.

Cooper admits the Plymouth hot-seat is an attractive one but he insists he would love to finish what he has started at Pool.

"Plymouth are a big club and we saw just how big when we went down there earlier in the season," said the Aberdeen Cup legend. "But I'm loving it here. I love it to bits at Hartlepool and the help and support I have here have been fantastic. Rumours always do the rounds at other clubs and it's nice to be linked with such a big club but I'm trying to build things here and I'm more than happy where I am."

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