MATTHEW BATES admits he is coming to terms with a ‘whirlwind’ 48 hours.

The centre-half was appointed caretaker manager at Hartlepool United on Monday morning, following the dismissal of Dave Jones.

He is backed up by Billy Paynter, Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher as Pools seek a win at Cheltenham on Saturday to keep their Football  League status intact.

Pools are two points short of safety, but can drag Cheltenham into the scrap with a win.

Bates, speaking at The Northern Gas and Power Stadium this afternoon, admitted: “It’s been a whirlwind really, I've had no sleep.

"I got a call yesterday morning from the chairman who asked me to take over with Billy, Stuart and Buster.

"He's asked me to front it, but it's a team thing, a collective, the four of us and the lads too.

“We are a tight group, regardless of what people think.

"We are going to work together to get out of the situation we are in.’’

Jones was removed after a woeful 2-0 defeat at home to Barnet, which followed a shocking defeat at bottom club Orient on Easter Monday.

The crowd turned against Jones on Saturday, but Bates wasn’t willing to criticise the former boss.

He said: "I don't want to get into old regimes, that's not what I'm about.

"I don't have Twitter but I've heard all the things that are going around and I don't agree with that.

"What's gone is gone, we have to look forward to the next two games.’’

And Bates, a former Middlesbrough skipper, and his management team have been pleased with the reaction from the squad.

"We just did a cool down yesterday,’’ he said. "The coaches stayed back and we watched Cheltenham and come up with a plan.

"The attitiude has been first class.

"The chairman has made the change in the hope of a reaction, I've certainly seen a reaction in the last two days.

"Only time will tell on Saturday, that will be the test for them.’’