FC Halifax Town: Offer to join Shaymen was too good to refuse, says Heath

The 45-year-old guided North Ferriby to victory in the Conference North play-off final less than two weeks ago, with the Humberside club replacing Halifax in the National League after The Shaymen’s relegation.

But Heath insists he has joined a bigger club in Halifax, and is relishing the chance to wake what he describes as a ‘sleeping giant’.

He said: “When a club like Halifax comes calling you can’t turn it down.

“It’s an established club that has played in the Football League.

“It wasn’t a hard decision to make.

“The club’s structure is ready to go back into the Football League.

“There are limits to the finances available at North Ferriby but there aren’t the same limits at Halifax.

“When you compare the clubs side by side, North Ferriby is a village club and it was unbelievable to get them into the Conference Premier.

“Halifax is a sleeping giant and myself and Mark want to manage at a big club.

“People will think ‘why, when we’ve just got promoted, have we decided to leave?’, but we are looking at the long-term.

“It’s a great opportunity for us. We’re taking one step back to take two steps forward.”

See more from the interview with Billy Heath in this Friday’s Halifax Courier.