HARTLEPOOL UNITED’S search for a new manager is almost over – with Richard Money the preferred choice.

Bookmakers have closed the book on the market, after Money started Monday as favourite.

Ged McNamee, the current first-team coach at the Super 6 Stadium was interviewed for the position on Monday and his odds subsequently shortened.

But Money impressed in interview last week and is understood to be the choice of Craig Hignett, the club’s director of football, and chairman Raj Singh. Betvictor stopped taking bets early evening.

The club is expected to make an announcment on Tuesday.

Lee Bradbury, the current Havant and Waterlooville boss, was interviewed last week and spoke at the weekend about his interview, which he felt was a success, and his managerial ambitions.

Lee Clark was amongst the candidates interviewed last week, along with Robbie Stockdale, the ex-Sunderland assistant boss.

And Pools appear to have opted for Money, the manager who got Cambridge United back into the Football League from the National League in 2014, with Ryan Donaldson, the Pools attacker part of his successful team.

Four years previously, Money steered Luton Town to the Conference play-off final, losing to York City. During his time at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters secured 127 points and scored 127 goals in 64 league games which earned him the best league record of any Luton manager.

A one-time Newcastle United Academy chief, Money’s Walsall side pipped Danny Wilson’s Pools to the League Two title in 2007 after a thrilling title race.

His last managerial post was a short-lived one at Solihull Moors. Appointed on October 5 last year, his first game was a home defeat to Craig Harrison’s Pools, and he left by mutual consent on October 31.

He said at the time: "There are so many people at this club who have worked so hard to get it to the level it is playing at right now and it deserves to stay there.

"To do so it needs someone who can fully commit to the club's future and unfortunately I am unable to do that right now."

Money’s playing career started at Scunthorpe and he was an unused substitute for Liverpool’s 1981 European Cup win over Real Madrid.

Pools are at Leamington in the FA Trophy on Saturday, a competition Money won with Cambridge, before they take on Bradbury’s side on December 22.