FC Halifax Town: Wilde glad to be back amid Fullarton revolution

Wilde started Billy Heath’s final game in charge - a 2-1 home defeat to Leyton Orient on January 30 - but was out of action until the 0-0 draw with Solihull on Saturday due to a strain on his kneecap.

“It took ages for the swelling to go down,” he said. “At first they thought it was something different so it was good to know it wasn’t as bad as first thought. But it feels strong now.”

There are six new faces in the Town squad since that Leyton Orient game.

“There’s been a lot of changes but it’s good to be back,” said Wilde.

“It feels like a long time coming. It’s probably earlier than I would have liked due to other injuries.

“I’ve only had two training sessions with the team so my fitness is low.

“I was happy with my performance on Saturday, but I was tiring second-half, I think you could see that.

“But we got a clean sheet in my first game back so that’s not too shabby to say how long I’ve been out.

“It’s a very different team to when I last played, a lot of new faces, but a lot of that is due to injuries, which you can’t really help.

“But the lads are just doing the best they can. And when the new lads come in everyone’s making them as welcome as possible.

“We’ve still got a good team spirit.

“The boss has come in but obviously they’re not his players, so he’s going to try and bring in a few new faces who he wants and who fit in with his style of play.

“But they’ve all come in and done well.”

Wilde acknowledges the style of play has also changed under Jamie Fullarton.

“He’s very thorough and professional in his approach,” Wilde said. “He lets everybody know what he wants from them.

“He gives you plenty of information on the opposition, which is good.

“Bill’s teams usually featured Tom Denton so we predominantly played to his strengths, which was aerially.

“Obviously the gaffer’s going with Mike (Fondop-Talom) at the minute, and he’s a strong lad so we’re trying to get it into him on the floor more and get it out wide.

“We’re also trying to get Kossy (Matty Kosylo) as a focal point, so it’s a different style but one we’re happy to play to.”

Wilde’s contract expires in the summer, and the defender is hoping to impress Fullarton enough to earn a new deal.

“I’ve not heard anything but it’s only early days,” he said.

“I’ve just got to keep doing as well as I can and hope I do get an offer.

“If not I’d understand because he may want to bring in his own players, which is fair enough, but I’ll do all I can to try to get an offer.

“It’s personal pride as well, I want to do the best I can. If I don’t get an offer then fair enough but I want to go away thinking ‘I did enough’ not ‘I didn’t deserve one’.

“If I put myself in a good place and don’t get an offer I won’t be disappointed because I’ll know there won’t have been anything else I could have done.”

As for the team, Wilde reckons one more win could be enough to see Town safe.

“We’re all aiming for the big 50 but just taking it a game at a time, that’s all we can do,” he added.

“As long as we take care of ourselves it doesn’t really matter what’s happening around us.

“It’s a big game on Friday against Fylde and then Gateshead on Monday, so one more win from those could see us safe.

“But even if we get that, the gaffer’s going to make sure we’re right for every game and that we get as many points as we can.

“Everybody wants to get the club to safety. Obviously there are lads here who have experienced relegation before that don’t want to replicate it.

“They’re pushing us through and that experience is helping us.”