MATTHEW Bates will be in sole command of Hartlepool United, with assistant manager Paul Jenkins taking personal leave.

After Craig Harrison was sacked on Wednesday, Bates and Jenkins were put in temporary charge ahead of tomorrow's game with Ebbsfleet at Victoria Park.

But Jenkins, appointed coach under Harrison in the summer, is taking time away from the club because of personal matters. It is expected he will be back at the club next week.

But that means Bates, who has this morning carrried out the club's pre-match press conference duties, will be in the dug out alone tomorrow and he will take training at the club's Durham training ground this morning.

Bates confirmed that all staff and players were paid in full this morning on time.