Thursday Sep 29 2005 14:01
Bournemouth striker Steve Fletcher believes the confusion at Hartlepool United following manager Neale Cooper's shock departure will not influence Saturday's play-off qualification decider.
The Cherries need to beat Hartlepool at Dean Court on Saturday to edge above the visitors and clinch the final play-off place.
Pools announced on Wednesday that Cooper had left the club but refused to explain why, throwing their preparations for the big game into turmoil.
However, former Hartlepool trainee Fletcher told the Daily Echo: "It's got nothing to do with us and we can't say it's going to benefit us because it won't.
"It might put a bit of a dampener on their situation, but I don't think it will affect the players. Like us, they will be determined to secure a play-off place and will be very fired up for this game.
"The game will take care of itself for both teams. A lot of people have said it's great news for us, but it could work the other way and I know we won't be changing our preparation because of it.
"I don't think it will change anything from their point of view either because their assistant manager Martin Scott, who is in charge for this game, will make sure they are ready for us.
"Sometimes it pulls teams together when they lose a manager so it could have the opposite effect and it's up to us to concentrate on our own game."
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