HARTLEPOOL UNITED returned to pre-season training yesterday, with Matthew Bates shifting from player to coach.

The defender has been appointed first-team coach under new boss Craig Harrison, who is also to appoint a new assistant manager.

They were also joined in training yesterday by new goalkeeping coach Bernard Hirmer, a former Bayern Munich keeper, who worked alongside Harrison at TNS in the League of Wales. He replaces Adriano Basso, who was only working until the end of last season under former boss Dave Jones.

Attacker Rhys Oates signed a new deal yesterday to stay with the club.

He was one of three players offered new deals at the end of last season. Carl Magnay has signed new terms, but Brad Walker has yet to commit himself to the club amid interest from Morecambe.

Bates was appointed as head of a four-man coaching team at the end of last season and is the only one of the quartet still at the club, with physio Ian Gallagher axed and Billy Paynter released, with Stuart Parnaby also understood to have left the club.

Bates will also take charge of the club’s reserve side and will start his UEFA A Licence coaching course.

“This is something I have wanted to do for a number of years, even more so after getting that taste of it last season,” he said.

“Part of what is happening is that I will be first team coach but I will also be taking reserve games so that gives me a broad role and it’s great for my learning.

“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.’’

Oates, who has made 73 appearances since signing from Barnsley in 2015, said: “It’s taken a little longer than everyone would have liked but I am happy it’s sorted now and I just want to concentrate on the football, getting fit again and back among the goals.

“I want to have a good pre-season now; it was a bit up and down for me last season but I felt like I ended the year strongly so I want to kick-on from there.

“I have played in the National League with Grimsby, Chester and Gateshead so I know it’s tough but if we play to our potential then I am confident we can be challenging for promotion.”