Tommy Posted 21 May 2005 Posted 21 May 2005 Gillingham have handed former Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper a two-year contract as their new manager. The Scot, who was axed by Hartlepool just before the end of the regular season, replaces Stan Ternent - who quit as Gills boss last weekend. Cooper had led Ross County to two promotions, before taking Hartlepool to the Division Two play-offs last season. Ternent's assistant Ronnie Jepson, who had also been in the frame for the job, will continue as number two to Cooper. I was impressed by the whole set-up New Gillingham boss Neale Cooper Cooper admitted it "came as a bit of a surprise" to be contacted by Gillingham chairman Paul Scally following his departure from Victoria Park. "It's been a hard couple of weeks since leaving Hartlepool," he told BBC Radio Kent. "I was on my way back to Scotland and I was delighted to receive a phone call from the chairman. I was surprised, but he wondered if I'd be interested in coming in for an interview. "I was in a convoy back to Scotland at that moment, so as soon as I got back to Scotland, I returned the next day and had a meeting with the chairman. "It was quite a relaxed meeting and interview, and that's how quickly it happened. "It happened in a couple of days. I was shown around the ground and was impressed by the whole set-up."
Nationwider Posted 21 May 2005 Posted 21 May 2005 Good luck to Cooper at the Gills. It was insane of Pools to let him go when they did. They are punching well above their weight in League One, and could well be playing at the likes of the Walkers, St.Mary's, Pride Park and Elland Road next year. Amazing when you consider they have finished bottom of the football league (in pre-Conference relegation times) more than any other club.
C-man Posted 21 May 2005 Posted 21 May 2005 good decision he knows the division as he got hartlepool into the play-offs before geting sacked Good luck to the gills and to neale cooper
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