HARTLEPOOL UNITED should have a new manager in place during the early part of next week.

And caretaker boss Matthew Bates would love the chance to shape the club’s future.

Bates leads Pools into tomorrow’s final game of the season at Tranmere tomorrow, and is one of four contenders for the post.

Lee Clark, the former Newcastle and Sunderland midfielder is understood to be one of the quartet. He was keen on the role when Craig Harrison was sacked in February and was willing to work for free at the time as Pools struggled to stay afloat.

Bates has secured Pools’ National League future, winning four of his 12 games in temporary charge.

He met with new chairman Raj Singh a month ago while the takeover was being completed, and again last Friday when he had a more formal interview with Singh and director of football Craig Hignett.

“The new owners made a statement last week and that’s as much as I want to say at the moment,’’ admitted Bates.

“Let’s see what the next week brings on that front. The players need to know what’s going on, the club needs a full-time manager to plan pre-season, make decisions on contracts so the sooner it’s decided the better.

“I don’t feel like this is an audition now – we are at the stage of the season where I think I have done all I could have done in terms of results. I came in to keep the club up and that’s what we’ve done.

“I couldn’t have done any more than I’ve done and it’s up to the chairman to make that decision. The players know what I’m about and I think there’s more to come from myself. I think I’ve done well with what I’ve had in terms of numbers (of players) and I’d like to be here next season with a fresh squad and some of my own players in here to really get my idea across.’’

With the squad in need of major surgery in the summer – although a number of players who were signed last summer by Harrison still have a further year left on their contracts – Bates wants the chance to put his own permanent stamp on the team.

The role of his coaching staff is dependent on who gets the job. Bates would surely seek to make Ged McNamee and Ross Turnbull permanent additions after they agreed to help him and the club for free in recent weeks with Paul Jenkins and Bernard Hirmer not seen at the club since Harrison departed.

“They have impressed everyone,’’ said Bates. “Scott Loach has been great all season bit you’ve seen how he has improved in recent weeks, he’s really gone up a level working with Ross.

“Ged has a helluva lot of experience, has great man-management skills when he works with the players and his coaching. You can’t fail to respect a man like that.

“I think the players have responded to all three of us.”