iPod touch & AirPod Pros music issue

I’m using a iPod touch 3rd gen (no phones/camera allowed at work, Apple Watch Ultra 2nd gen has serious music issues so I settled on using an iPod touch, 5.1.1 OS) now paired with AirPod Pros 2nd gen —no issue with AirPod Pros 1st gen & with fake AirPod Pros.

If I play the last song of an album and it’s done playing, the AirPods are still connected, I can press play, pause, turn up/down volume (on iPod and via AirPods) but no sound on the AirPods. I have to put AirPods in the case, close case, open case and re-connect. I have re-paired, restarted iPod, reset AirPods all to no avail.

Tried with the same AirPods connected to my iPhone 15 Pro and works as expected.

I’m baffled, does anyone know a solution? Having to stop work and go thru the whole procedure gets old fast ;-}

Thanks in advance.