SECOND-DIVISION new-boys Hartlepool United are expected to name their new manager today.

And the new boss's arrival coincides with confirmation that Kevin Sheedy has been axed as assistant manager.

Pool's decision to sack Sheedy is an indication that chairman Ken Hodcroft is likely to unveil a completely new-look managerial team.

Sheedy was brought in by former boss Mike Newell late last year as his assistant and the pair guided Pool to only the third promotion in the club's history.

It was expected that the former Newcastle and Everton winger would lose his job after Newell's departure last month, but it was only confirmed by Pool chairman Ken Hodcroft yesterday.

"Owing to team management changes within the club, Kevin Sheedy has been served his termination notice and will no longer be involved in football matters," said Hodcroft.

Now Hodcroft is expected to name the men he believes will make Pool a force in a higher league next season.

Former Middlesbrough defender Tony Mowbray, ex-Sunderland coach Steve Cotterill and Pool youth team coach Martin Scott are thought to be the front-runners for the job.

Whoever takes over the Pool hot-seat will lead his side in an early- season Carling Cup clash with former Victoria Park boss Chris Turner's Sheffield Wednesday side.

The teams have been paired together in the first round of the newly-named competition and the clash at Hillsborough on August 12 guarantees Turner will meet his old club at least three times during the 2003-4 campaign.

During his time in charge at Pool, Turner never progressed past the first round in the League Cup.

In his first full season at the helm Pool lost to Burnley and in the past two years defeats at the first hurdle against Tranmere and Nottingham Forest have followed.

* Premiership clubs will bide their time before plunging into the transfer market this summer as the money men keep a tight grip on the purse strings.

That is the view of top agent Jon Smith as the close-season progresses with little activity on the transfer market outside David Beckham's sensational move to Real Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur's £8.25m swoop for Portuguese striker Helder Postiga yesterday is one of few big-money deals to be completed so far, although the return of most clubs for pre-season training in the next week or so should increase the tempo.

Smith believes that much of the caution currently being exercised is a result of uncertainty over just how much money respective managers will have at their disposal.

Read more about Hartlepool here.