Craig Harrison leaves The New Saints to become Hartlepool boss

The Oswestry-based club have agreed to release Harrison from his contract to enable him to take up the post at Victoria Park.

Pools, relegated earlier this month after 96 years in the Football League, had been without a boss since Dave Jones was sacked two games from the end of the season following a disastrous run.

Harrison, who hails from the north east of England, has been the most successful manager in the history of The New Saints.

At Park Hall for almost five-and-a-half years, during that time the club has won six Welsh Premier League titles and lifted the Welsh Cup four times and the Welsh League Cup each of the last three seasons.

"I would personally like to thank Craig for all of the success he has brought to the club in the five years or so he has been with us and I wish him all the very best in his new role with Hartlepool United," said The New Saints chairman Mike Harris.

Scott Ruscoe will step up from his current role of assistant manager to take charge in the interim. He will be assisted by Steve Evans.