RITCHIE Humphreys last night insisted it's business as usual at Hartlepool United.

Despite the uncertainty over the future of manager Martin Scott, who was suspended from his duties on Wednesday, the Pool squad are focused on tomorrow's vital game at Rotherham.

Scott was ordered away from the club as a full investigation is conducted into events following last Saturday's defeat to Blackpool, when he was involved in a heated dressing room bust-up.

Youth team coach Paul Stephenson is in temporary control and will be in charge at Millmoor tomorrow.

After the former Newcastle midfielder took training yesterday, Humphreys said: "The spirit in the dressing room has always been the same, very good. We've had some good times as a club and as a group of players and the work ethic and attitude remains the same.

"We are going out there to perform on Saturday and call on that experience and spirit we have.

"We've been in a pressure situation before - in different circumstances - but we have done our job and come through it.

"There's been a lot of success over the last few seasons and all clubs go through some bad times. This is ours, but that togetherness in the dressing room and around the club remains.''

Pool have not win since beating Bournemouth at Victoria Park on December 10 - nine games ago.

Humphreys added: "It's up to us to get up the league table and get the results to do it.

"We cannot feel down about it, the good thing is that we have 16 games left to put it right - it's not like we have six games.

"The worst thing would be to feel sorry for ourselves then find that we only have six games left to do something.

"We've got a big, important game with Rotherham to come, that's what we are focused on right now.

"We want to win every game, every week. The desire is there to do that, we want to win for each other and that will never change.

"It's a game against a team at the bottom of the table, which makes it important that we get something. It's not a case of looking down or being upset about it, we are all determined to get out of it.

"We have to deal with the situation, hard work and commitment will help us to get out of it.''

Former Pool boss Chris Turner is in contention to replace Scott if the former Sunderland defender doesn't return to the club.

It is not known how long the investigation will take to complete and there has been no comment from the club since Wednesday's statement.

With Stephenson placed in command for tomorrow, it is unlikely anything will happen before tomorrow.

Steve Agnew, Pool's reserve team manager and Scott's assistant, was at the training ground yesterday, but it was Stephenson who took the morning session.

Turner is out of work after leaving Stockport last December.

Peter Beardsley, coaching at Newcastle United's Academy, is believed to be interested in the post.