ROSS TURNBULL is ready to register as a player with Hartlepool United.

The club’s goalkeeping coach, a former Middlesbrough and Chelsea keeper, has not had a club since leaving Leeds in May last year. His last appearance came for Leeds in a League Cup draw at Doncaster in August 2015.

But with Pools’ back-up keeper Ryan Catterick moving to Guisborough on loan, Turnbull will sign on in case of an emergency.

Scott Loach has not missed a game since signing for Pools last summer, and Bates will now put five outfield players on the bench in Catterick’s absence.

“Ryan needs to play games, we won’t be replacing him,’’ said Bates. “We looked at the situation and he needs games. There’s no reserve team and if he is going to play for our first-team he needs experience of games.

“We have a big squad and if we don’t use a keeper on the bench we only have five subs to use. We have an arrangement with Guisborough for an immediate call back if needed if anything happened to Loachy during the week.

“Ross will register in case anything was to happen in the warm-up before the game and he was needed. It’s very, very doubtful he would be called upon, but saying that….

“It’s a fine balance to look after Ryan’s career and he needs games and then if we need a keeper we can make an emergency loan.’’

Bates added: “Ross was alright about it, he understands. He is great here, great with the keepers and he knows the importance of Ryan going out on loan so if he is registered to play then have we had a Champions League winner at Hartlepool....’’

Pools have taken the decision, on footballing grounds, to not enter a reserve team in the Pontins League this season and will instead arrange a series of regular friendlies.

Michael Woods has stayed at Pools, despite interest from MK Dons coming to nothing.

And Bates added at yesterday morning's press conference: “I’m very happy with the squad, it’s competitive. We got our work done early. There’s no window as such in the National League and I can’t see anyone coming in today or going out either.’’