Brian Laws up for the “challenge” of saving Hartlepool United’s season

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley boss was among the early favourites for the job, although it is understood Graham Kavanagh could be in-line to be appointed on a short-term basis.

Pools are currently bottom of the Football League after the weekend defeat to Carlisle United, which led to Colin Cooper resigning as manager.

Laws, 52, has been out of football management since being sacked by Scunthorpe in November last year and he has refused to rule himself out of the running.

“I’m always interested in getting back in,” Laws told Press Association Sport.

“Football has been my life hasn’t it? I want to get back in. That’s the way I look at it.”

Cooper spoke recently of his frustration at trying to strengthen the squad at Victoria Park following the club’s poor start to the season.

Laws added: “It seems it is getting harder to attract players to the north east.

“That’s when you have to rely on your contacts, your network within the game.

“I’m always up for a challenge.

“Every job I’ve had has been a challenge.”

Pools player coach Sam Collins and Stephen Pears have been named caretaker bosses in the interim and they will be in the dugout for tomorrow night’s Johnstone Paint Trophy match at home to Sheffield United.

Former Burnley, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest defender Laws started out in management at Grimsby in 1994 and had three spells as manager of Scunthorpe, who he twice steered to promotion in 1999 and 2005.