HE did, as he said at the end of last season, passed the public audition, and now it’s Matthew Bates turn to take the lead role at Hartlepool United.

After two caretaker spells, in the most trying and testing of circumstances, now it’s for real.

Bates has a stable operation behind him, with all the help and support needed. He’s no longer firefighting.

There is a different outlook at the club now. Gone are the regimes who overseen the collapse of the proud North-East institution. Gone are The Infamous Five - Paul Watson, Dave Jones, Pam Duxbury, Gary Coxall and John Blackledge – never to darken the door again.

Pools now have a structure, a leader in Raj Singh and a focus. The club now feels more akin to the stable years of Ken Hodcroft and IOR.

It is hoped the bad years are over and, thanks to Singh and Jeff Stelling, the club can start to turn things around.

Bates, with the assistance of director of football Craig Hignett, has been given every chance to shape his own squad. Nine signings have arrived; few have left and there’s room for more to leave.

A number of players signed last summer have been made available for transfer, but there’s been little to no interest.

Bates, at 31 is a rookie in management terms, but has plenty of life and football experience behind him. He made his Middlesbrough debut 18 and captained the club amid a playing career held back by a string of different cruciate knee ligament injuries.

“Being a football manager is 24 hours and I have no problem with that,’’ he mused. Nothing in football fazes him.

Thrown in at the deep end as Pools were in utter turmoil in April 2017 with two games to go, he brought a smile back to the players and they almost stayed out of the bottom two.

Next time, with 14 games to go he replaced Craig Harrison, with Pools in an all-too-familiar muddle. Two wins in 15, nine in 33 and the promise of Harrison was gone.

But managers at Victoria Park don’t last long. Danny Wilson had 133 games before being axed in December 2008. Since then, and Pools have now had 11 permanent managers following him, none have made it into three figures.

Hignett spoke of giving his manager a chance, allowing him the time to develop and breathe. The gallows on the Headland from where the monkey was hung in the Napoleonic War has since been used too many times for Pools bosses.

Bates has recruited well. Experience and football nous has been lacking for years. Andrew Davies is a proper defensive leader, while Liam Noble can bring some welcome bite to midfield.

Pools have too many central midfielders on their books and while Bates’ team will be playing 3-5-2 this season, there’s only room for three in the middle of the park when he has nine who can play there.

Up front and there’s some lively options. Perhaps Niko Muir is a gamble, but his 40 goals last season for Hendon show he can score. The question is adapting to full-time football. Luke James’ return is welcomed by all.

Audition passed, now for Bates to take the lead role in the spotlight.