NEALE Cooper has revealed he will not select the side or dictate the tactics at Bramall Lane this afternoon despite being confirmed as Hartlepool United's new manager.

The Scot will instead defer to his coaching team of Micky Barron and Ritchie Humphreys for the League One trip to Sheffield United as he begins his second stint in the hot-seat.

Cooper said: “With not knowing the players very well it would be wrong of me to come straight in and stir things up.

“I do not know the style of play or have personal knowledge of the players, and I think that is important.

“To arrive on a Thursday and throw everything upside down would not be right, and it would be unfair after a very good performance last week at Oldham.”

Cooper added: “I will be in the changing room with the players and speaking to them before the game about what we are looking for.

“However, it will be good to have the first-hand experience of Micky and Ritchie in terms of how the team play.

“I will watch the game with them on the bench, and hopefully we will get the right result against a side which is flying at the moment.”

Reporting positive early signs after his whirlwind return, Cooper said: “From Thursday’s training session and speaking to the lads I sensed the environment is a very positive one.

“I have been impressed with what I have seen in training, but training is not a competitive game.

“I saw a lot of quality, though, and that is very exciting for me.

“I had a chat with the younger players separately and, with the way football finance is at the moment, they know if they are good enough they will get a place in the side.”

One aside for this afternoon’s fixture sees Cooper’s successor from his first spell at Victoria Park, Danny Wilson, in the opposition dug-out as he takes charge of a Blades side perched at second in the table.

He said: “Being up against Danny is another twist to the tale, but it just goes to show what a strange few days it has been.”