Halifax Town

Halifax Town
Halifax boss Chris Wilder has allowed 10 players to leave after his side missed out on a place in the play-offs. Alex Meechan, Christian Lee, Neil Ross, Ryan Mallon, Dean Howell and Gordon Chin have not been offered new deals. Chris Clarke and Steve Croudson have been released, while Henry McStay and Paul Stoneman want moves elsewhere. John Grant, Mark Monington and Jason Blunt have been offered short-term contracts while Lewis Killeen and Ian Dunbavin signed 12-month deals.

McAuley resigns from Halifax post
Sean McAuley has resigned as assistant manager of Halifax Town. McAuley, who has been the number-two to boss Chris Wilder for three years, intends to return to university. Wilder told the Halifax Evening Courier: "Sean did an excellent job. I will be looking to replace him with someone of a similar character. McAuley, 32, also made 26 appearances for the Shaymen after earlier spells as a left-back at Hartlepool, Scunthorpe and Rochdale.

Jacobs joins Halifax in dual role
Halifax Town have appointed former Bradford City stalwart Wayne Jacobs as their new assistant-manager. Jacobs, 36, replaces Sean McAuley as number-two to Town boss Chris Wilder and will mix his duties with playing. The defender, who played with Wilder at Bradford and Rotherham, has agreed a 12-month deal after 11-years at City. Wilder told the Halifax Evening Courier: "He brings a lot with him, not least the dual role having only just left playing in League One."

Conference increases loan quotas
The Conference has increased the number of loan players clubs can use next season after the enforced introduction of the transfer window system. Clubs can register four short-term and four long-term loan players and can play five loan players in a game. Clubs can also sign a keeper for a minimum period of seven days outside the transfer window if they do not have a registered keeper available. The changes are being brought in to soften the blow of the transfer window.

Conference LDV entrants confirmed
The Football League has confirmed the 12 Conference teams that will take part in this season's LDV Vans Trophy. Relegated pair Kidderminster and Cambridge are joined by the teams who finished 12th or higher in last season's Conference National table. The other invited sides are Accrington, Aldershot, Crawley, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter, Halifax, Hereford, Morecambe, Stevenage and Woking. The first round will take place in the week commencing 17 October.

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Bushell avoids punishment from FA
Halifax's Steve Bushell has escaped a Football Association ban following an incident in their game away to Barnet on 9 April. The Town skipper was alleged to have reacted to a section of home fans as he was stretchered off with a broken leg. Bushell was warned about his future conduct but avoided further punishment. Meanwhile, the Shaymen have appointed Ed Baranowski, a sports science and development officer at the University of Huddersfield, to their staff. His services are to be funded by the university, with no cost to the club.

Shaymen look at experienced pair
Halifax Town boss Chris Wilder has included veteran duo Peter Atherton and Gary Brabin in his pre-season plans. Ex-Bradford defender Atherton, 35, and former Hull midfielder Brabin, 34, have started training with the Shaymen. "There is nothing concrete. We will have a look at them and they will have a look at us," Wilder said. "Both have had successful careers and want to continue playing. If that was not the case neither would be here," he told the Halifax Evening Courier.

Wilder targeting promotion push
Halifax Town boss Chris Wilder hopes last season's near miss inspires his side to mount another promotion push. A run of just two wins in their final nine games cost Halifax a play-off place and Wilder wants to make amends. "The players had a taste of being up near the top of the league last year and they liked what that was all about," Wilder told BBC Sport. "I want them to have the desire to be up there again. There is a quiet determination to have a good season." Halifax lost by a single goal at Morecambe on the opening day of the season but bounced back to beat Burton and Wilder has been encouraged by the start. He added: "How many good days we have is down to myself and the players. Everyone will fancy their chances at this early stage so we will just try and stick in there and see where it takes us. "I am not going to shout about what we are going to do but I think we can be competitive and on our day cause problems for a lot of teams in this league. "The lads are not coming here just to see another season through. That would be letting an opportunity pass them by. They want to do well." However, Halifax will have to manage without captain Steve Bushell for up to a further two months. The 32-year-old midfielder is struggling to recover from a broken leg sustained in April and will not be rushed back by Wilder.

Halifax complete Leister signing
Halifax Town have completed the signing of former Leeds United midfielder Brenton Leister. The 19-year-old has joined Town on non-contract terms after being released from Elland Road. Leister, who came through the youth system at Leeds, spent part of pre-season with Halifax. He follows striker Justin Bowler, 19, in making the switch from Leeds to the Shay after Bowler signed for Chris Wilder's side earlier this month.

Bradford pair seal Halifax move
Halifax have completed the double loan signing of Bradford defender Jake Wright and striker Danny Forrest. Wright, 19, joins on a month's contract to cover injuries and Forrest, 20, will stay until the end of the season. Forward John Grant, 24, following his recent displays has been rewarded with a new deal which will keep him at the club until the close of the campaign. Grant joined from Shrewsbury in March on a short-term contract at the end of last season.

Striker Mansaram back at Halifax
York City boss Billy McEwan has allowed Halifax Town striker Darren Mansaram to return to the Shay following a month's loan with the Minstermen. But McEwan has not ruled out renewing his interest in the 21-year-old when he recovers from a groin strain. Meanwhile, McEwan is also looking at Grimsby striker Jermaine Palmer, 19. Palmer, who has just completed a month on loan with Conference rivals Scarborough, will spend a few days training at KitKat Crescent.

Wilder vexed by discipline lapse
Halifax manager Chris Wilder was disappointed with the lapse in discipline which took the gloss off his side's win over Altrincham. Midfielder Martin Foster was sent off following an incident involving Altrincham's Steve Hawes and now faces the prospect of a three-match ban. Wilder said: "I'm disappointed in him, we should have seen the game out. "The game was won and we didn't keep our discipline which takes the shine off a good win."

Exeter 4-2 Halifax
Exeter twice came from behind to keep their promotion charge on track with a home win over Halifax. Halifax went ahead after one minute when Wayne Jacobs' short corner found John Grant, who rifled the ball home. Exeter equalised through a Billy Jones penalty, then Halifax regained the lead through Lewis Killeen, before Steve Flack headed in to make it 2-2. Goals from Les Afful and Craig Farrell gave Exeter the win, after they took advantage of Denny Ingram's dismissal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exeter: Paul Jones, Hiley (Afful 57), Todd, Gaia, Billy Jones, Challinor (Sawyer 85), Cronin, Taylor, Scully, Farrell, Flack (Phillips 62). Subs Not Used: Rice, Edwards. Booked: Challinor, Todd. Goals: Billy Jones 11 pen, Flack 45, Afful 74, Farrell 75. Halifax: Dunbavin, Haslam, Quinn, Ingram, Wright, Forrest (Senior 83), Jacobs (Leister 78), Thompson, Doughty, Killeen (Young 45), Grant. Subs Not Used: Midgley, Bowler. Sent Off: Ingram (45). Booked: Jacobs, Wright. Goals: Grant 2, Killeen 27. Att: 3,154 Ref: D Phillips (West Midlands).

Halifax trio agree new contracts
The Halifax Town trio of Martin Foster, Tyrone Thompson and Adam Quinn have agreed new deals to stay at the Shay next season. Boss Chris Wilder is also holding contract talks with further members of his squad as he looks to hold onto his leading players. Defender Quinn recently started his 100th Conference game for Town. Meanwhile Thompson has been a midfielder regular and Foster has taken on the role of team captain. Wilder told the Halifax Evening Courier: "I have been delighted with the squad¿s efforts this season. "Now is the right time to start looking ahead to next year."

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