Uncertainty surrounds the future of The Shay, who will become the club’s manager and the future of the team’s star assets, while low crowds and an incresingly competitive National League raise question marks about Town’s chances of achieving promotion into the Football League.
Our FC Halifax Town reporter Tom Scargill takes a look at the main talking points surrounding the club at the moment.
1. The manager
Adam Lakeland's shock move to Morecambe has suddenly seen Town's close season plans torn up. Lakeland did a cracking job in his first season at the club, coming close to guiding Town into the play-offs while producing some attacking, entertaining football and moulding a talented, committed squad. The presumption was he could do even better next season, but with him gone, Halifax must move quickly to appoint his replacement, but above all, get the appointment right so that the summer recruitment that is so pivotal to the following season's success can be a smooth as possible. Photo: Darren Murphy/FC Halifax Town
2. Keeping the squad together
The big question on-the-pitch is who stays and who goes from the current squad. Town are used to seeing their biggest assets move on every summer, and it would be a pleasant surprise if this close season was any different, especially in the wake of Adam Lakeland's departure. Top scorer Will Harris, attacking midfielder Josh Hmami and exciting prospects Cody Johnson and Jay Turner-Cooke look the likeliest players that will attract interest from elsewhere, but it is understood all are either under contract or the club have options on them, so it will be fascinating to see if The Shaymen can resist the offers that will surely be on their way. And if not, can they be replaced with players of good enough quality? Photo: Darren Murphy/FC Halifax Town
3. The Shay
Will there be a different owner of The Shay by the time Town kick off the 2026-27 season? The ownership saga over the stadium has been rumbling on for more than two years, and the last update from Calderdale Council was that the deal for Ken Davy to buy the ground is expected to conclude later this year. If that deal does go through, will there be any consequences, immediate or otherwise, for The Shaymen? A lot of unanaswered questions remain. On a side note, hopefully one positive outcome of the pitch work finally being done is that we see some home pre-season friendlies once more. Photo: Chris Nutton/FC Halifax Town
4. Is promotion possible?
Every season that goes by without Town making that long-awaited return to the Football League, the question of whether it's actually achievable remains. Opinion among the fanbase seems split on this. Some supporters feel more ambition needs to be shown by the club with increased budgets, loosening the purse strings and providing managers with more proven quality to take on the challenge, while others would guard against spending the kind of money that could see the club's existence put at risk, again. There's no doubt a lot of stars have to align for Town to reach the promised land of League Two, and there's a sense of so near, yet so far about their attempts in recent seasons. Photo: Carl Recine