Matthew Bates thrilled as Hartlepool United confirm ex-Boro captain as new manager

The former Middlesbrough captain successfully steered Pools away from National League relegation trouble after taking over from the axed Craig Harrison in February.

New chairman Raj Singh saluted Bates’s efforts at Victoria Park and has backed the new boss, with Ged McNamee confirmed as first-team coach and Ross Turnbull staying on as goalkeeper coach.

Both played influential roles in Bates’s caretaker reign.

Bates, 31, said: “I feel privileged to be named as manager, this is a great opportunity,.

“As a young manager wanting to get on that ladder, I don’t think there is a better environment than there is here at The Vic right now.

“The new owners have come in and it’s a fresh start for everyone; it’s a big club, so I am over the moon really and I can’t wait to get the hard work started.”

Singh enthused: “I’m really pleased with the appointment.

“Matthew has done really well and didn’t really give us that much of a choice.

“We interviewed three or four good quality candidates, but I think Matthew’s results speak for themselves so in the end we went with him.

“His points tally and win rate was really good and with the other two guys behind him we feel like we have the right management team in place to move us forward.”

Bates will work closely with new director of football Craig Hignett, who said: “We’re delighted.

“At the end of the season, things had really turned round and the staff worked really well together.

“Ged and Ross have been a big part of what has happened at the club, so we’re pleased to get them two secured as well as to have Matthew signed up as manager.

“It’s great to get them in early because that gives us a bit of a head start because now we can start planning for the players and the direction we’re going to go next season.”