FC Halifax Town: We’re in good shape, says Wild as Shaymen resume training

FC Halifax Town boss Pete Wild says his squad has made a good start in their return to training.
23 June 2020 .....   Halifax Town manager Pete Wild with his players back training for the National League play-offs. Picture Tony Johnson23 June 2020 .....   Halifax Town manager Pete Wild with his players back training for the National League play-offs. Picture Tony Johnson
23 June 2020 ..... Halifax Town manager Pete Wild with his players back training for the National League play-offs. Picture Tony Johnson

The Town players were back together this week at their Leeds training base, 14 weeks after their last game, a 1-0 defeat to Ebbsfleet at The Shay.

They are preparing for their National League play-off clash away to Boreham Wood, which Wild says is set to take place on either Tuesday, July 21 or Wednesday, July 22.

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“The lads have been excellent, they’ve come back in a really good shape, that’s really pleased me,” said Wild.

“You have that anxiety of what they’re going to come back like, but they’ve done what we asked them to do to a man.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’re going to have to quickly try to get them up to speed.

“With us being non-contact this week it’s a chance to get the technical element into them, a chance to try and build their physical capacity up.

“We feel we’ve got a good starting block.”

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Town have had to abide by COVID-19 safety measures and follow guidelines laid down by the National League.
“It’s been a lot to take in, a lot to digest and follow,” said Wild.

“It’s important everybody stays alert in terms of making sure we follow it and do what’s required.

“We feel like our process is in a good place and we’ve got everything nailed down that we need to.
“They’ve got to come in their own cars and when they report, they just put their boots on, come straight up, sanitise their hands and they’re straight into it.

“Straight after training they have to go home.

“The staff have to take precautions around wearing masks, making sure all equipment’s disinfected, making sure only the groups use that equipment and then it goes in the wash or is disinfected before anybody else uses it.

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“It’s probably more on the staff than the players to make sure we enforce things and that the players are as safe as possible.”

Wild said all players and staff have already been tested, and that the process will continue on a weekly basis.

“We’ve got a short space of time to get them where they need to be, so at some point intensity levels will have to go up,” Wild added.

“Obviously we want to get back to contact training, and after we’ve been tested this week, following the results of those tets, we’ll then see if we’re in a place to move to what is stage two of the protocols handed out by the National League.

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“The technical element we have, it’s allowed lads to get back on the ball and get a feel of the ball again, and work on their passing, their dribbling, their shooting.

“It’s actually been very worthwhile. It hasn’t had to be doggies (runs), it hasn’t had to be just running for running’s sake, we’ve been able to mix the physical and the technical really well, which has really given us a solid base to move into next week hopefully.”

On defender Michael Duckworth, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, Wild said: “He’s taken part in all the technical sessions. A return to play will suit him because of the non-contact and then contact nature of it.

“We’ll have to assess when we go to contact, that he’s not feeling any pain or that he feels like he can’t join in.”

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One player who didn’t return to training was striker Devante Rodney, who had been on loan from Salford prior to the lockdown, but won’t be available for The Shaymen in the play-offs.

“Devante’s agent spoke to me and I spoke to Devante,” said Wild.

“He’s got offers on the table for next season and he doesn’t want to risk those offers by getting injured playing for us.

“He was up for playing for us but he feels that he’s got good, solid offers on the table so we have to respect that and we move on.
“Devante’s done well for us in both his spells at the club, but I still feel we’ve got more than enough talent within the building.

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“Talent that got us into the position that we were earlier in the season to progress.

“We’ve got 20 players, all of top quality, who deserve to go and finish the job.”

But it doesn’t look like any teams involved in the play-offs will be able to add to their squad.

“As far as I’m aware, it’s not confirmed yet, the only people that will be allowed are people that were registered on March 16, when play was suspended,” Wild said.

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The Town boss is hoping to arrange a couple of behind closed doors friendlies for his players before they face Boreham Wood.

“We’ve got one we’re trying to arrange, we’ll probably have an in-house game at some point,” he said.

“We’re looking at organising another friendly but that’s not confirmed yet due to clubs sorting their testing protocols out etc.

“Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll know a little bit more on that.”

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21 photos of FC Halifax Town back in training in preparation for the National Le...
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