Terry Phillips worked closely with newly appointed Hartlepool manager Dave Jones for six years between 2005 and 2011. Jones was Cardiff City manager, while Phillips reported on the club’s fortunes as they played at Wembley Stadium three times in the FA Cup (2008 semi-final v Barnsley and final v Portsmouth) plus the 2010 play-off final v Blackpool. There were times when the two men got on well and they travelled to America, Canada and Portugal with Cardiff, but by the end of Jones’ reign they were at loggerheads.
Dave Jones and Kevin Cooper are ready start their newest managerial adventure in South Wales.
Former Cardiff City team boss Jones is now in charge at League Two Hartlepool United with ex-Bluebirds winger Cooper at his side and their first match will be at Newport County on Saturday, January 28 (3pm).
Jones has been appointed to succeed fellow Scouser Craig Hignett, who was sacked as ‘Pools manager following their 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town.
Coach Sam Collins will be in caretaker charge of Hartlepool for this Saturday’s home match against Stevenage before Jones and Cooper take over from Monday.
“This football club has struggled for quite a few years, but it has a good fanbase and all the trappings to be a success,” says Jones.
“I’ve been lucky that my career has been quite successful so I don’t want to spoil that, I want to continue that.
“This job really tickled my fancy.
“I used to come here many years ago when I was with Stockport, I know the place, the tradition the fact Hartlepool have a good following and a good away support.”
Jones was Cardiff manager for 315 matches, winning 132, drawing 84 and losing 99. He brought relative success to the Bluebirds and there is no doubt he is a leading manager.
Personally, I don’t like Jones the man, but I have respect for his football know-how and ability to develop a football club.
Cooper, in stark contrast, is among the nicest guys I’ve met during 47 years as a football journalist. The former Servette Geneva manager has an abundance of football knowledge and together they could prove a big hit for ‘Pools.
Among Jones’ predecessors at Hartlepool are former Cardiff striker Ronnie Moore, only a couple of years ago, and Brian Clough during the 1960s before he went to Derby County, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.
Jones, 60, is back on the touchline for the first time in three years, since leaving his job at Sheffield Wednesday, while 41-year-old Cooper returns after his stint in Switzerland.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has often used Jones as a football sounding board, seeking his advice whenever needed over the last few seasons.
Now Jones has the task of leading Hartlepool, who have earned only one win in their last nine League Two matches, up the table from their current 19th position.
He has been in charge of more than 800 matches in total for Stockport (1995-97), Southampton (1997-2000), Wolves (2001-04), Cardiff (2005-11) and Sheffield Wednesday (2012-13).
Add in his assistant manager role at Mossley (1988-89) plus jobs in charge at Morecambe plus Southport and his total of matches rises past the 1,000 mark.
DJ and I are unlikely ever to be best buddies, but I sincerely wish him all the best with Hartlepool. I reckon he will do pretty well for the Durham club.
A few Jones facts to savour:
Played for England youth and under-21 teams, while he was called up to the senior squad by Bobby Robson. But Jones injured a knee the day before he was due to report and was never selected again.
Led Wolves to promotion via the 2003 Championship play-offs, beating Sheffield United in the final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
Everton’s Colin Harvey was his favourite player as a child and he says: “I liked everything about the way he played. He was the white Pele.”
When Jones signed for Everton it was Harvey who picked him up each morning for training.
Jones was a motor mechanic before becoming a footballer
He helped Everton finish second and third in Division One (now the Premier League). They qualified for Europe. Jones played at Ninian Park once, for Everton in 1978-79 when the Merseyside club won 2-1.
Jones spent two years playing for Seiko FC in Hong Kong. He lived in Kowloon and learned to speak fluent Cantonese at that time. When Cardiff played a Chinese team in Seattle, USA during a pre-season tour he was able to speak to his opposite number with no problem.
Jones said: “Liverpool manager Bill Shakily once told me I would be the next Tommy Smith, but then Everton came calling and that;’s who I wanted to play for. I was from the blue side of the city.”
He played under a variety of managers including Billy Bingham, Gordon Lee, Gordon Milne and Dave Sexton, but says: “I can’t say I learned from any of them. When I was playing I never thought of management and therefore couldn’t really learn anything. I simply wanted to play football.”