MATTHEW BATES has welcomed the return of Craig Hignett to Hartlepool United.

The club’s caretaker boss takes his side to Sutton tomorrow, with Hignett soon back at the club where he made two playing appearances in 2007, coached from August 2013 to March 2014 and managed from February 2016 to March 2017.

With Raj Singh’s takeover to be rubber-stamped by the National League, the former Darlington chairman can get control of the club and attempt to turn it around.

Hignett will be a key lieutenant for the owner and Bates admitted: “Craig coming back is a good thing and it’s good for any club to get someone in that position as long as it’s done right.

“It takes a lot of pressure off any manager, be it me or anyone else. I worked under him before and played under him and anyone can learn from him and his knowledge.

“I’m a new manager and it can only help. He is a positive character and will be good to have him back around the place.

“How it will work yet, we don’t know. Will he be in day to day at the training ground or be office-based? It’s a discussion to be had in the coming days.’’

With chairwoman Pam Duxbury on her way out of the club as Singh takes over, the new chairman said: “I’m determined to get people involved with the club at heart so decisions are made for the right reasons, footballing reasons.

“Me and Craig know each other well, he knows the club inside out, the town, the fans. Hopefully people get on board sooner rather than later – he has the trust of the town. He has a lot of football knowledge, contacts in recruitment.

“He’s the sort of individual we need and he’s the first appointment I’ve made.

“The club has to change, big changes are needed and we have to cut our cloth accordingly. I’ve seen a lot of similarities already when I’ve been speaking with Pam, costs have been running away.’’

Singh will appoint a board of directors at Victoria Park to oversee the operation. The club has not had a board since the mid-1990s under the control of Harold Hornsey.

When IOR and Ken Hodcroft reigned from 1997-2015, the club was ran by the Aberdeen-based oil company and its business empire.

Now Singh and Jeff Stelling have formed a consortium they hope that others will come forward to financially support and back their adventure.

Singh added: “I hope to get businesses involved – success breeds success and sponsorship comes in on the back of it.

“There’s a lot of good businesses in Hartlepool who we are keen to work with and get involved with.

“I’m looking at a chief executive in place to help with that side of it. The manager and chief exec are more important in the club day to day than the chairman. Commercially, bring some money in. Football-wise, win games to bring the crowds in.

“We are well on with that and getting someone on board. I’m determined to get a board of directors in place to help make decisions.’’

Singh was in control of the Quakers from 2009-2012 and support Middlesbrough. Now involved at Pools, the Teesside-based businessman has completed an unlikely hat-trick.

“I’m a football fan, and I’m a long-standing Middlesbrough fan and a lot of people have said I’m stupid for getting involved again,’’ he mused.

“But looking at it I love the dream stories in football – Bournemouth, Wigan, Burton Albion, teams who have progressed and are punching above their natural weight. Go somewhere near there and what is it worth?

“Success give me a buzz. I was at Fylde and Hartlepool were 3-1 down with minutes to go – two cracking goals later it’s 3-3 and I turned to Craig and said that’s why we are getting involved.

“All of a sudden, I’m watching the Barrow game and I’m the biggest Hartlepool fan. I’m involved and it gets to you. Passionate and making a go of it.

“Compare it to a player going from one to another – your loyalty moves from one club to your new club.

“I went to my first Boro game in 1978 and someone asked me the other week about Saturday, Boro against Forest and Hartlepool at home too… well I told him I’m going to Hartlepool.’’

Pools head south today without centre-half Liam Donnelly. He recently returned from Under-21 duty with Northern Ireland with an ankle / calf problem.

Bates said: “We are still short on numbers, bare bones and we hope to have Aaron Cunningham back in the squad, he’s worked hard.

“Liam Donnelly is a frustrating one, he’s still struggling and will probably need a scan. It won’t settle down and he’s as frustrated as anyone. We have missed him, he’s a massive player for us, but we have won games without him.

“We need one big, last effort and since I’ve been here it’s hard to fault the lads – the last two home games weren’t great, especially Solihull – but we have enough about us to get those wins we need.’’