Cooper: Time was right to leave

Neale Cooper believes he made the right choice in resigning as Hartlepool boss, but admits he wishes he had done certain things differently.

The 48-year-old quit the League One strugglers last week and Pools have yet to find a replacement to fill the void. Cooper told the Hartlepool Mail: "It couldn't go on. I knew in my heart that it was the right decision. I didn't want to go on with a situation which wasn't going to improve - that would not have been fair on the club or the supporters. "I'd tried everything to improve things on the pitch but it wasn't happening. It was killing me and I knew in myself I'd lost my spark, it had been drained from me. "I couldn't just sit there taking my wage and let things continue, I think too much of the club and the people of the town to do that. I made mistakes and there are a few things I would do differently in hindsight. "But what I was seeing on the pitch just wasn't good enough - it really wasn't. I feel as if a few boys could have done a lot better for me and they know that. But they're a good bunch on the whole and I've spoken to a few of them since. I wish them all the best and there are a couple of lads in there who will go on to have top, top careers."