The 35-year-old arrives at the Towbar Express Stadium @ The Turnbull Ground having made over 100 appearances for Middlesbrough as a player, along with a healthy number of games played at Hartlepool United.

As well as featuring for the two North East clubs as a player, he also had spells with Bristol City and Bradford City, along with loan spells at Darlington, Ipswich Town and Norwich City.

Having initially been appointed as caretaker manager at Hartlepool in 2017, Bates took on the role on a full-time basis in 2018.

Bates will now work alongside Jonathan Franks as assistant manager's to Nathan Haslam, and he will be in the dugout against Nantwich Town on Saturday afternoon.

Further comments will follow from Bates in the coming days.