MATTHEW Bates has admitted that Hartlepool United are on the look-out for ways to strengthen, even if he is satisfied with the progress that his National League promotion chasers have made under his watch.

Pools chairman Raj Singh hinted last week in his match-day programme notes that he could be willing to add to the squad in the weeks ahead.

And Bates has regularly held discussions with director of football Craig Hignett over possible targets as Hartlepool look to keep improving after a solid start to the first season under the new regime.

There was no hint of a new signing before Saturday’s visit of Boreham Wood to Victoria Park, although it is clearly something that Bates and the club’s recruitment team are thinking about.

Bates said: “We have had conversations, nothing too serious. There is talk of a few things happening but nothing concrete. The best teams always look to add and we are no different.

“As long as it is something that comes along, and myself and Craig think it will improve us, then we will speak to the chairman and go from there. I am very respectful of the chairman and what money he has put in already, we will ask a question and if it is a no then it’s a no.

“I don’t think we are looking for a spark, that’s not the right word. We are short in a couple of positions, but we will look at individual players on an individual basis, what they can bring.

“We get calls every day about those who are available. We look at each one and if something pops out then we will chat with the chairman about it and go from there.”

Hartlepool are looking for a lift at home. They have only won two of their seven matches at Victoria Park so far and were left frustrated when they only earned a point against lowly Aldershot last weekend.

Bates, whose side have only lost one of their last 11 games, is not overly concerned by the results at home because he believes things will take a turn for the better given how far they have come in a short space of time.

The Hartlepool boss said: “There was a quote from the Aldershot manager (Gary Waddock) saying that it ‘was a great place to come’. That’s respectful, and what he means is that teams enjoy coming to a place like ours at this level, they raise their game.

“We have to raise our game at home. We have to play better at home than we do away at times because teams raise their levels when they come to us, they raise their standards.

“It’s a case of us realising that and trying to get better. I don’t see it being a problem, I think it will even out and we aim to put that right against Boreham Wood.

“We always want to play well at home. We have a great record away from home. It’s important that we keep that up our points ratio going away and try to improve on the points total at home.”

Hartlepool will be without Luke Williams for the next month so he will not be able to help Bates’ hopes of seeing his team score more - and that is likely to have an impact on where Bates would like to add.

Williams was at the training ground in Peterlee on crutches on Thursday and he has had to undergo surgery on a knee medial ligament. He is yet to figure since arriving from Scunthorpe in August.

Bates said: “He is happy with how it went. We hope to have him back on the field in four weeks. Everyone else is fine. We have a full squad training apart from Luke. That’s a bonus.”