Cooper steps down as Hartlepool manager
Gone: Neale Cooper has resigned as Hartlepool United manager
Neale Cooper has resigned as Hartlepool United manager with the side bottom of the League One table.
Cooper, 48, returned to the Victoria Park club in December 2011 but had not been able to recapture the form from his first spell in 2004 and 2005, when he twice led Hartlepool to the play-offs.
He won just seven times in 40 matches second time round, including just the once so far in the league this season.
Hartlepool lost 2-1 at Bury on Tuesday night, a result which left them six points adrift of safety.
A club statement read: 'It is with reluctance that Hartlepool United today accepted the resignation of first team coach Neale Cooper.
'Neale, who came to the club in December 2011, stated that he had enjoyed his time at Victoria Park and also the full support of the club's owners IOR, along with all the players and staff.
'However, he decided that it was in the best interests of the club that he stood down from the position as first team coach.
'Neale stated that he had been very disappointed with the results achieved since the start of the season and, although in several games luck had been against the team, he nevertheless believes they can move on and secure League One status with someone else leading the campaign.'
Micky Barron, the reserve team coach, will take temporary charge, starting with Saturday's visit to Brentford.
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