Hartlepool United: Bates won't put any pressure on his squad

After the Dave Jones era ended with a flat 2-0 home defeat to Barnet, it was clear confidence and belief was shot to pieces.

But since taking charge on Monday morning, Bates and his sidekicks at the club – Billy Paynter, Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher – have put a spring back in the squad.

They go to Cheltenham on Saturday needing a win and Bates said: "Especially with young players, the more information I think is more detrimental - it puts too much in their heads.

"We'll give them certain bits of info, but it will be short and sweet then it will be up to them to do it.

"I want the team to go out knowing what they are doing.

"If they know that, no matter how nervous or anxious they may be they have that fall back on.’’

The Robins and Newport are ahead of Pools, but both can be overtaken and Bates admitted: "The shackles are off, we are the ones doing the chasing now.

"You can't polish the situation we are in, we are not in a great position.

"It's a mini-league for us, three teams, we need to finish top of that. If we do, we could be safe, if we don't we probably won't be.

"We are preparing well.

"We are trying to keep things as simple as possible.’’

Cheltenham have reduced home admission to £12 hoping for a crowd approaching 4,000, their biggest of the season.

Pools will be backed by around 600 fans and Bates said: "The lads are going to be nervous, will I be nervous? Probably. If I wasn't there would be something wrong.

"It's been a long two days but fairly enjoyable, I've enjoyed the day to day running of it.

"We are a team, I might be fronting it up, but that's what we are, we making decisions together.’’

And after a team meeting last Wednesday ended in misery, Bates added: "There is no time for motivational talks, crisis meetings, we've had all that and it hasn't worked.

"It's up to us to set them up as best we can and then they go out and do it.

"The lads know how much it means to everyone, owners, staff and fans.’’