CONFIDENT Chris Turner believes this could be the year his Hartlepool United side win promotion.

And the Pool boss, starting his third full season in charge at Victoria Park, insists the squad he has formulated now is the strongest it has been since he arrived, despite the loss of free-scoring midfielder Tommy Miller to Ipswich Town.

Many Division Three clubs would have struggled to come to terms with being without a player who has finished as their top-scorer for the past two seasons.

However, Turner thinks that Miller's exit has allowed him to make the centre of the pitch a more compact and solid unit.

"I actually feel that we can be stronger in midfield now," said Turner, who has brought in Tommy Widdrington and Darrell Clarke as replacements.

"Don't get me wrong any side in the Third Division is going to miss a player like Tommy because he is a wonderful talent, First Division teams would miss the amount of goals he provides.

"But I feel Tommy's move will allow us to tighten up a little and in Tommy Widdrington we have someone whose like has not been here since I came.

"He is a defensive player, and with his quality in there I'm sure we will be a much more tougher proposition."

Every Pool supporter has the words "going up" at the forefront of their minds, and Turner is aware of why that is the case.

After two failed play-off bids those fans are hoping that they can go one better this time around and clinch a place in Division Two.

And Turner said: "I'm not going to be over-confident and come out and say 'we are going to get promoted', but we are hoping to be in contention.

"We have now got some experienced players in the squad alongside some of the younger lads.

"If we stay injury free and have better luck this time then I think we should be there or thereabouts."

The summer signings of Clarke, Widdrington, Ritchie Humphreys and Jon Bass represent major coups for Turner, and alongside the old favourites the Pool chief is excited about the nine months ahead.

"I am really looking forward to the full season," said Turner.

"We have brought some good players in over the summer.

"And when they play alongside the players who we signed on longer contracts - like Paul Stephenson, Michael Barron and Kevin Henderson - the signs are good.

"We have then got the rest of the lads and they will all have to compete hard for their places.

"Players will be disappointed not to be playing some weeks but they will just have to work hard and fight. And that gives us a really good chance."

Gerry Francis' Bristol Rovers side are being hotly-tipped to be a major force, but Turner is adamant that all the sides who suffered the drop in May will pose a threat.

And the former Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester United and Sunderland keeper will also be keeping a close eye on one or two of his foes from the past campaigns.

He added: "Last year three of the four clubs that came in to Division Three went straight back up. So Luton, Bristol Rovers, Swansea and Oxford are all in with a shout.

"Hull City have spent over £1m so they can't be taken lightly and then Leyton Orient, Cheltenham and one or two others are always bound to cause problems.

"But all we can do is concentrate on our own game and then take things from there, it should be an interesting time."

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