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Halifax Town and Brighouse derby is a step closer to reality
HALIFAX Town could face a local derby with Brighouse Town next season if the consortium bidding to buy the club and creditors fail to agree on a deal by lunchtime tomorrow.
Liquidation of the Shaymen has moved a step closer after yesterday's initial meeting between administrators running the club and creditors was adjourned until tomorrow morning.
And should Town 'do a Scarborough' they could end up in the Northern Counties East League, with Brighouse joining them from the West Riding County Amateur League.
That appears to be the worst case scenario for Halifax after a dramatic day at the Shay which saw two of the major creditors reject the David Bosomworth and Bobby Ham-led consortium's offer of two-and-a-half pence in the pound.
For the Shaymen to have a chance of retaining their Blue Square Premier status - secured on the field in heart-stopping fashion less than a fortnight ago - agreement has to be reached at Begbies Traynor's Leeds office.
That is because Town have to meet current Conference guidelines on clubs who have to be out of administration, back on a sound financial footing and have the approval of the Football Association and the league by the Conference agm on June 7.
The stark reality is that should the two sides fail to agree then Town's run of 87 years in English football's top five divisions would be over.
Dropping into step six of the national pyramid would mean the Shaymen requiring five promotions just to get back to the level at which they currently stand.
And that is if someone comes forward to set up a new club, with all the costs that would entail.
Town's former Conference foes Scarborough went bust last summer and, after reforming as Scarborough Athletic, hastily joined the NCE League first division, finishing fifth in their first campaign at that level.
They were the only side in the division watched by three-figure crowds in each of their 32 league games, with a season high 605 watching their home game with Pontefract Collieries.
The division also includes the likes of Tadcaster Albion, Yorkshire Amateurs and Leeds Met Carnegie.
Yesterday's adjournment has implications for manager Chris Wilder who had been due to meet with players today to discuss their futures at the club.
It is likely that the list of those to be offered new deals - Jon Shaw, Adam Quinn, Nathan Joynes, Craig Mawson, Tom Kearney and Thomas Harban are already under contract - will be now delayed.
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Weather for Halifax
Friday 10 February 2012
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