Wilder strives to revitalise Halifax

After a summer of strife and uncertainty, Halifax Town will be relieved that they are still in business to start the new Nationwide Conference season tomorrow.

Following their relegation from the Third Division last term, the Shaymen have had a struggle to stay alive. The drop was soon followed by an administration order, and it seemed that the West Yorkshire club were in danger of folding.

Almost all the senior players were released, and the future looked bleak.

However, a group of local businessmen led by two Halifax Town directors, David Cairns and Adrian Hall, were not prepared to let the club die.

They secured approval from their major creditors for a Company Voluntary Arrangement, which saw off the threat of liquidation. Halifax duly came out of administration earlier this month, allowing them to prepare properly for the challenge of Conference football.

The last time the Shaymen were relegated from the Football League, in 1993, they were able to retain a full-time playing staff.

This season, though, their players will be part-time. "The budget dictates that," the chief executive, Tony Kniveton, explained. "But you can look at it two ways. You can get good players on part-time money, or afford bad ones on full-time money."

The task of recruiting a squad capable of challenging for Conference honours is in the hand's of Halifax's new player-manager, Chris Wilder.

The 34-year-old defender, who played for Sheffield United, Rotherham and Bradford City as well as Halifax, left the manager's post at the UniBond League club Alfreton Town to return to The Shay before the administration order was lifted.

Wilder could not sign any players until Halifax came out of administration.

Since they have done so, he has recruited several of last season's side, who agreed to return to the club on reduced terms, plus new men like the former Newcastle full-back John Beresford and the ex-Blackpool midfielder Phil Clarkson.

Two senior players, the goalkeeper Lee Butler and the defender Sean McAuley, will double up as coaches. "The club was nearly gone about a month ago." Wilder admitted. "It will be difficult, but I'm not fearful about the coming season. I'm confident."