By Amy Brough-Aikin
Former Halifax Town manager Chris Wilder is Alan Knill's new assistant manager.
Chris became manager at the Shay with the club in turmoil at the end of the 2002/03 season.The Shaymen were in administration with only five players on the books yet his first season saw Halifax push for promotion from the conference, including a brief spell in the automatic promotion spot.The club eventually finished in 8th position.
The 2004/05 season was much brighter. The club managed to put a very credible promotion push together and spent much of the season around the play-off zone. However after a dismal run of results in the last two months of the season the club dropped from 2nd place down to 9th, and another season in the Conference beckoned.
In 2005/06 the Shaymen once again put together a strong push for promotion. This time they managed to stay inside the play-off zone at the end of the season. The club finished in 4th position, and a play-off with Grays Athletic was at hand. Halifax won the tie 5-4 on aggregate to set up a play-off final with Hereford United. However, Halifax lost 3-2 in extra time in a game in which they were denied an early penalty. However, most of the fans now regard Wilder as one of the club's best ever managers, because under his leadership he turned a club on the brink of going out of business into a strong force in the Conference. However, the following season, team strengthening had the opposite effect and the club avoided relegation on the last game of the season.
However, the end of last season brought more turmoil for the Shaymen, administration, a failure to finalise a CVA and liquidation soon followed for the historic club and they now wait to see what the future lies regarding football in Halifax.
As a player, Chris has played 484 games, scoring15 goals for a total of 13 clubs, including Sheffield United (twice), Walsall, Charlton, Leyton orient, Rotherham United, Notts County, Bradford City, Northampton, Lincoln City, Brighton & Halifax Town.
A good friend of Alan Knills, Chris will start work immediately.Reaction from Alan Knill and Chris Wilder will be live on the site later
