MATTHEW BATES, the stand-in Hartlepool United boss, has been named the National League manager of the month for March, after a run of results which looks like securing the club’s status.

Pools are seven points ahead of the bottom four with four games to go after Bates took 11 points from a possible 15 during a five-game run last month.

While Pools have disappointed in the last two games, losing at Victoria Park to both Guiseley and Solihull Moors in the last week, Bates will lead the club into the weekend’s game at Sutton.

Raj Singh’s takeover will be rubber-stamped by the FA and National League board this week and Bates admits he wants to be named manager on a full-time basis.

He said: “The takeover has been expected, it’s going to go through and it doesn’t change anything with the lads in the dressing room. When it’s all signed and completed then we will have a discussion with the owners.

“It’s something I want to do and I would love to take this club forward next season, but I don’t know what it happening – that’s the truth so it remains to be seen.’’

Craig Hignett will take up his post as director of football under Singh’s regime.

And he will be at the heart of the process of picking a permanent boss.

Singh’s friendship with Martin Gray, the former Darlington manager, has led to rumours that the current York City chief is in his thoughts.

But Dave Penney, York’s sporting director and a former Quakers’ boss, admitted: “Rumours? I’ve heard them, I know Raj and I may go as manager – who knows! Raj was vice-chairman when I was at Darlington so there’s always a connection, but Martin has not spoke to me about it and he had a full-time job here with league games and hopefully the play-offs to come.

“We’ve not heard anything and whispers fly around every club and until I hear, Martin tells me or Hartlepool make an approach then as far as I’m concerned there’s nowt in it.’’

Bates is the second Pools boss to win the award this season, after Craig Harrison was rewarded in October.

Of the honour, he said: “It has come as a surprise. We had a good month.

“It is a nice accolade which will be locked away until the end of the season - we still have a job to do.

“It is not something I want to think about too much.

“It is simply a reward for things you have done over the last month. That's all it is.

“Every manager says the same thing but this is for everyone – in the grand scheme of things I do very little.

“The performances have picked up. It comes from the bottom to the top - the attitude has been first class.

“This is a reward for all the staff and players not just me.

“We will keep working hard to get out of the position we are in, then we can reflect on individual performances.’’