Ex-Middlesbrough & Republic of Ireland defender Curtis Fleming is great for Hartlepool United

Curtis Fleming will make a major impact at Hartlepool United.
Curtis Fleming delivers instructions from the touchlineCurtis Fleming delivers instructions from the touchline
Curtis Fleming delivers instructions from the touchline

So says gaffer and friend Craig Hignett who this week welcomed the former Middlesbrough and Republic of Ireland defender to the club as his first-team coach.

The 46-year-old was in the dug-out at Victoria Park on Tuesday night and has been hard at work on the training ground at Maiden Castle all week.

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“We got beaten on Tuesday, so I’m blaming Curtis,” laughed Hignett.

“I’m joking, he’s a great lad and a really good coach.

“It’s been good for me to have someone to bounce stuff off.

“He’s a defender. Some might say he was more than a defender, a bit of a hatchet man!

“That’s not a bad thing if you are a defender, hopefully he can instil a bit of what he had into our lads at the back!

“I’m so pleased to have him in, he’ll have a really positive effect.

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“He brings different things, sees things differently to what I do and that’s a nice thing to have.

“The tendency for me is that if we’re one down I’ll put more men forward and have a real good go.

“Curtis is a bit more cautious in his nature, as defenders are so I think it will be a good balance.”

Hignett says his search for an assistant manager will continue after one potential number two got a job elsewhere.

“I am not in a masssive rush,” said the former Boro favourite. “It is something I’ll assess as we go along.

“There are one or two I am speaking to, but we’ll crack on for now and see what happens.”