MIKE Newell's first full day in control of Hartlepool United started on the road, sitting on board the team bus for six hours.

It was ironic, really, after what Gordon Watson said a couple of weeks ago.

Pool headed off to Leyton Orient yesterday aiming to maintain and extend their four-point advantage at the top of the table.

Following Chris Turner's departure as names of potential managers were in plentiful supply, Pool talisman Watson observed: "My view is plain and simple. This bus drives itself. There's nothing that needs fixing.''

But Watson yesterday again used the club website, this time to welcome the new 'bus driver' and offer the hand of friendship: "It is up to us players to continue all the good work we have put in. Mike has got a great chance of getting his managerial career off to an unbelievable start.

"We must all get behind him and make him feel as if he has always been here.''

Newell's appointment might have raised a few eyebrows around Victoria Park, but he is confident of carrying on and building on the good work.

"This is an ambitious club,'' he admitted. "Ken Hodcroft said we don't want to be talking about promotion. Things are running very, very smoothly and it's too early to be talking about promotion.

"Now it's about being myself. I have to get to know the players - they want success and I want it as well. They will be working me out in the next few days and weeks as much as I will be working them out.

"I've been looking to get into management and I believe in fate. When this job came up I applied for it and it felt right.

"I got my application in within a couple of days of Chris Turner leaving.

"On Monday morning I had an interview then they got back to me. I had another on Wednesday night then I was offered it. To be honest, I was still on cloud nine when I was appointed and had the press conference.''

Newell's friendship with Alan Shearer is well-documented. The pair were room-mates at Blackburn, have kept in constant touch since their Ewood Park days, and Shearer revealed on Thursday his role as a go-between to assist Newell's appointment.

"I discussed the job with Alan Shearer,'' said Newell. "A friend, a good friend of his, has been to Hartlepool a few times and I asked Alan if he could mention it to him.

"He did and, well I don't know about a glowing reference, but what came back wasn't bad!"

Newell is assisted today by Martin Scott, Pool's youth team coach, who assumed temporary command in Colin West's absence this week.

Newell joined in training when Pool arrived at their London base yesterday afternoon. Scott will pick today's team and Newell admitted: "It's not given that I will be bringing someone in, it's something to think about in the next few days and weeks.

"If I feel it's necessary then I will see the chairman and see what the possibilities are.

"But Martin Scott is there at the moment and we will take it from there.

"I was looking after the reserve team at Tranmere last season and worked with Dave Watson. In the end it came down to a financial decision. My contract ended and it wasn't renewed because of the money problems with ITV Digital.''

After almost 20 years in the game, Newell is ready to bring the experience of playing under some of the game's leading lights to Victoria Park.

"I've taken bits from all the managers I have worked under,'' he admitted. "I've been very fortunate to have played for some of the game's most successful.

"At Blackburn there was Kenny Dalglish and there's Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey. who had success at Everton, plus David Pleat. You tend to take something from them all, managers and coaches, but in the end it's about doing what you believe in.''

While a Premiership winner's medal with Blackburn and Champions' League football at Ewood Park ensured a taste of the high life, Newell's playing days ended in Division Three with Blackpool.

Last season was spent as reserve boss at Tranmere and he admitted: "I haven't seen any of the games, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?

"I watched a lot of Third Division football for Tranmere last season, but I'm sure it won't take me long to find out about the lads here and the other teams in the division.

"Like I said, these jobs don't come up very often.

"It's important that I don't change too much. Obviously I want to bring my own identity to things and get to know them all as quickly as I can.

"Yes, I haven't seen them play yet, but it means that I come in without a ready-made opinion on things. I've seen managers come in to new clubs with their minds already made up about people.

"I will form my own opinions and nobody else can do that for me. Some players will be in form now, some out of form, some injured and out of the team. I've got to give them time to show me what they can do.

"As a player I was always one who took an interest in other players and now it's my job to do that as a manager. I only met the players on Thursday afternoon.

"It's important to keep things ticking over.

"I have inherited good players here. Now it's up to me to stamp my authority on the club without disrupting it. I never wanted to be an assistant boss - I want to be number one, the one with his head on the block.'