Football Season Guide

Halifax have been one of the most consistent and impressive sides in the Conference Premier in the past couple of seasons, reaching the play-offs once and going close the next year. But that cycle seems to be over as the nucleolus of the successful team has been ripped apart over the close season and Neil Aspin has to assemble a squad from pretty much scratch. Marc Roberts, Matthew Pearson and Lois Maynard provided the spine of the team in midfield and defence but they all moved now to pastures new and it is the task of the manager to find adequate replacements on a pretty tight budget. It is an unthankful task and it remains to be seen whether the new signings prove shrewd and fill the gaps. Maybe a change in the squad was needed as the Shaymen somewhat drifted in the final couple of months of the season, falling to find the spark that was required to really push for a top-five finish. The main issue that dogged the squad last season was the lack of a proper goalscoring striker to fill the shoes of Lee Gregory. Scott Boden had a decent campaign up front but never really convinced. Still, he earned a move to the Football League with Newport County this summer and that allowed Aspin to seek new alternatives. Danny Maguire may well be the new star in attack after the consistently prolific marksman was snapped up by Blyth Spartans on the back of bagging 36 goals in the last campaign. Of course, getting a player from two divisions below to play at the Conference Premier is always a risk but it is one that may well pay off handsomely for the Shaymen. Andy Bishop is another new addition in attack and the hugely experienced striker could well provide a useful addition alongside the young and unproven Maguire. Otherwise, Aspin beefed up the midfield by signing good and experienced players like Kingsley James and Hamza Bencherif. Matty Brown is the man signed up to cover the departures in defence and he has not really convinced over the last season. That is the area of biggest concern for Halifax prior to the season and a new signing could well be made. Overall, Halifax lost too much quality over the close season and should not get close to the play-offs. Still, Aspin is an excellent manager and should steer them to a safe mid-table spot.