CHRIS Turner's preparations for the new season started at 10.40pm on Tuesday, April 30.

As soon as Ritchie Humphreys' penalty agonisingly rattled off the frame of the Cheltenham goal, consigning Hartlepool to another season in Division Three, Turner's thoughts were turning to August 10 and the 2002-03 season.

"We have players here capable of playing in the second division and we will be playing in the second division within 12 months,'' he said amid the pain of Whaddon Road.

A bold statement maybe, but one Turner had no hesitation in making because he believes in his players, believes in his footballing ideals - and knows his claim has every chance of becoming reality.

He said: "I know if we play to our potential we will have a good season. If we don't then I know I can go out and bring players in to give us a little boost who will lift us.

"I know there are no problems in bringing in any players who I feel will benefit the squad, but at this stage there is no need to.

"I have every confidence that over 46 games we can achieve our aims - and our record in recent seasons suggest that.

"After 46 games you deserve to be where you finish - last season Halifax deserved to go down and Plymouth deserved to win the League.

"Now, after three good seasons people expect us to be there.''

Turner added: "From day one in pre-season we told the players exactly how we wanted to play next season - we want a high tempo, putting the opposition under pressure and forcing them into making errors.

"Against Barnsley we surprised them because we did that; the Berwick manager said the same, Tommy Craig at Newcastle said the same. We will get results in Division Three playing like that.

"On the other side of the coin, when we do get the ball and we get it down and play we have quality players out there who can create and take chances.''

Those chances led to a glut of goals at Victoria Park last season - only Manchester City scored more League goals in front of their own fans - yet despite the massive upturn in fortunes during Turner's tenure, the manager believes there is still a stigma attached to the club.

"Over the last two seasons there has been a good attitude from the players.

"If we were Hull City then several of them would be picked up and be playing at a higher level. I still think there is a bit of a stigma attached to this club.

"If you look at Chrissy Westwood for one player. He was outstanding against Newcastle and again against Barnsley in pre-season and showed what a good defender he is.

"He shouldn't really be playing in the Third Division - he is better than that - but we are fortunate we have him here.

"This team doesn't surprise me, they have all worked very, very hard in pre-season and want to carry on the form we finished last season.''

While few Nationwide League clubs - particularly those in the third division - have spent money in the transfer market, Turner hasn't felt the need to buck the trend and take any additional players to Victoria Park.

And while some ferret around for loanees, trialists and non-contract players, shrewd Turner has every faith in his squad.

Pool started slowly last season, they were bottom of the table with just 15 points after 16 games and then motored to seventh spot after taking 56 points from 30 games.

And it's that form which Turner is sure can continue.

Teenager Anthony Sweeney is ready to play his part this season and with home-grown Adam Boyd and Mark Robinson part of the first-team set-up, Turner is content with the junior production line.

"We are getting to the stage where we don't have to go out and scratch around looking for players and bringing someone in,'' he said.

"Sometimes you do that - and it's happened with higher division players coming here - and it takes them three or four games to bed in and get used to this level.

"We want to bring players in from the youth team and give them a chance.

"The youth team and reserves play the same way as the first team and it's important we are all going in the same direction.

"Martin Scott is doing a great job with the youth team. I want to utilise the squad here.''

Turner's biggest capture of the summer was to keep Gordon Watson at Victoria Park.

In his first season back in professional football after an horrific leg injury sustained playing for Bradford against Huddersfield in 1997, the hit-man set Victoria Park alight as he bagged 18 goals in 31 League starts.

And now, with a full pre-season campaign behind him, and hero status bestowed upon him from the Pool faithful, Watson, a decent bet at 14-1 to become the Division's leading scorer, will spearhead Pool's attack.

"Gordon is sharp and is working hard, he's lost that little bit of weight he gained when he was injured last season,'' said Turner.

"He wants to be the leading scorer in the Football League, not just the third division, and if we are creating chances he will put them away.

"And Jermaine Easter is finding his feet, finding his form and doing what we want him to do and know he is capable of.''

Turner knows one of the biggest threats will come from big-spending Hull, with Jan Molby now in charge.

"They have spent a lot of money again,'' he said. "They've probably spent about £2m in the last year or so and we have finished above them in the last three seasons.

"Now we have to do that again. They are moving to a new stadium and will have an added edge.

"I expect Rochdale to do well, Oxford will be a better team than last season, Scunthorpe will be there again and Rushden - five or six teams are capable of winning the League."

Read more about Hartlepool here.