Bates Joins Pools Backroom Staff

The 30-year-old will remain registered as a player but his main focus will move to the coaching side, while he will also have control over the club’s reserve team.

Bates has long held an ambition to move in to coaching and he had his appetite whetted further at the end of last season when he was handed caretaker charge for the final two games.

The former Middlesbrough man joined Pools from Bradford City in the summer of 2014 and has gone on to make eighty-six appearances for the club.

“This is something I have wanted to do for a number of years, even more so after getting that taste of it last season,” Bates told his club`s official website. “Part of what is happening is that I will be first-team coach but I will also be taking reserve team games so that gives me a broad role and it’s great for my learning.

“The club are looking to get me on the A Licence course, which is brilliant – the football will come first obviously but the qualification is a work in progress in the background to further educate me.

“I will still say registered as a player, keep myself right and be available if needed but I really want to give my all to the coaching now and learn as much as I can.

“Everything seems to be moving in the right direction – the lads are back in for pre-season, there’s a good feeling about so we have to build on that and take things to the next level.”

New Pools boss Harrison has also confirmed that he plans to add to his coaching staff further with the appointment of an assistant-manager in the coming weeks.

Earlier, Harrison announced the appointment of former Bayern Munich star Bernard Hirmer as the club’s new goalkeeper coach.

The Pools boss worked alongside Hirmer during his time in charge at Welsh Premier side Total Network Solutions and was keen to bring the German to Victoria Park.

Hirmer - a good friend of former Germany international Dietmar Hamann - joined Harrison and the players for the first morning of pre-season training this morning and will now be part of a new-look staff at the club.

The 49-year-old, who featured in the Champions League for Bayern, worked as assistant-manager to Hamann during his time in charge at Stockport County before his spell with Harrison in Wales.

“I’m really pleased that Bernie has agreed to join us at The Vic,” Harrison admitted. “He’s got great experience from his playing career and is a top-class coach as well as someone I have a great working relationship with.”

Hirmer comes in to replace Adriano Basso, who worked in the role during the latter part of last season.