Bates Wins Vanarama National League Top Boss Award For March

Hartlepool will look back and be thankful for goings on in March after earning eleven points in their bid for National League survival.

Bates was brought in to put out a fire with the Pools struggling for form and having parted company with manager Craig Harrison.

After relegation last season, fears were growing of another big fight - but Bates not only steadied the ship, he shot the club up the table.

March actually started slowly with a 2-1 defeat at Aldershot Town, but the tide soon turned. Holding promotion hopefuls Boreham Wood and AFC Fylde to a draw, coming back from the dead at Mill Farm, set the tone.

Those points proved to be a catalyst for a three-match winning streak, with victories at Barrow, at home to Bromley and then at Maidstone United left Bates delighted - and with an award in his hands.

April hasn’t started in such an impressive way, but the Pools may look back and be thankful for their unbeaten five-game period.