Why I'd love the chance to manage The Shaymen, says former Town youth player turned coach

The 36-year-old was a midfielder as a player and was with Town's youth team during Chris Wilder's time as manager, while studying at Calderdale College.

Jones is based in Kansas City, where he has been director of coaching with Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

Before that, Jones worked as head of coaching at Bristol Rovers, and as under 21 coach at Bradford City.

Most recently, he was a head coach in Asia and also coached across the under 15, under 17 and under 20 Moroccan youth national teams. Jones has applied for the role and says he would love to help The Shaymen get to the next level.

"I've looked at the squad, I've got a depth chart, plus lots of other things to help me see what I'd do, how I'd change things to close that performance gap and, if I was in charge, to get the club into the play-offs and kicking on," he told the Courier.

"I consider myself a serious contender.

"For Halifax, the challenge is always going to be not only to attract players but keep them.

"But the experiences I've had are exceptional, I've worked with high-level people and I've coached at international level.

"I've spent a long time honing my craft when it comes to leadership and coaching.

"And fans want to have someone they can connect with. What an amazing thing it would be for the club to get someone who is one of ours, someone who understands the DNA of the club, not someone who just wants to use it as a stepping stone.

"I'd want to be there for as long as I could be and help the club get to where they want to get to.

"That's what makes me an ideal candidate."

Jones says he is in discussions with a number of clubs at National League level, but that Halifax would be his first choice given his connection to the club and the area.

"Halifax is home for me. I came through the under 19s at the club as a player, and still have a house locally, so the opportunity to return in a leadership role is something that genuinely excites me.

"I've always been a fan of the club, I love the club.

"My best friends are in Halifax, I have family there, I feel like I grew up there.

"From 16 to 19, I was there, I still talk to my mates who live there, I always follow their results.

"If they had someone who had a genuine interest, rather than someone who might be looking for the next step, I'd want to be part of a long-term project there and get the club back into the Football League."

Jones says he has had a lot of experience coaching in different envionments.

"I'm fortunate that I've worked with some really top people," he said.

"I've worked in Morocco under Osian Roberts, who's now at Como with Cesc Fabregas, and he went to Crystal Palace after Morocco to be assistant to Patrick Vieira, I worked directly under him.

"I've worked in youth development, which gives you a grounding in how to coach and connect with people, and develop young talent.

"I've coached at senior level in Asia and, more importantly, I've been working on coaching in two decades.

"That journey started at Halifax, where I'd play with the youth team in the moning and then coach in the evenings at the centre of excellence, and I've honed my craft.

"Sometimes people go down a traditional route by going through the age groups, which I did earlier in my career. I was at Rochdale as academy coach, I've done some stuff with RIASA (Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy) and Bradford City, and I've worked as head of coaching at Bristol Rovers.

"And I've gained other experiences which, I think, put me aside from the rest because you can connect with people, you've got experience of different markets, different ideas, different game models, different strategies.

"And I've worked as an elite coach educator, supporting coaches on the Pro Licence, I've worked with coaches like Walid Regragui, who took Morocco to fourth in the last World Cup, and Aliou Cisse, who won the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.

"Having those experiences and working in high-performing environments, it's given me a fantastic grounding for a role like Halifax.

"It gives you a different grounding. If you've only worked in England, you're limited in your experiences.

"I'd be an unusual appointment, for sure, but a really good one I feel because if you keep doing what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always got."

Town have usually had one of the lowest budgets in the National League in recent seasons, while most other teams in the division also have a bigger backroom staff.

But Jones says he is aware of the limitations he would be working under at The Shay.

"I'm not under any illusions, it's obvious where the club's at in terms of a weekly wage budget," he said.

"I've looked at what that means for recruitment priorities. We'd need more strength up top in terms of goals but the back line would need strengthening because we're conceding too many goals.

"Managing transitions in this league is crucial. I'd look to upgrade certain positions but it's not a rebuild of the squad that's required, but adding a few high-impact players and maybe some loan deals.

"You can be creative within the budget. I've worked in environments where you have to find different ways and if you can get a couple of targeted loan deals from some of my contacts where players fit the identity of what a Halifax Town team should look like.

"For me, it's all about out-running, out-fighting, out-thinking and out-playing. That should be our identity.

"It doesn't have to cost us a lot but if we can get players who fit that model, we're going to be up there and hopefully go from eighth place to even higher."

On his lack of National League experience, or not knowing players at that level as well as other candidates, Jones said: "I think years ago that would be a valid point, but not anymore, because I've got access to data probably more than anyone else in the National League.

"I've got connections with people across the Football League and the Premier League, everyone nowadays is digitally collected.

"I've got access to Twelve Data, who do all the statistical reports, so I've already identified where teams are at, what their trends are, all their performance data, squad strengths.

"I've got access to a lot of these platforms so I don't think that issue is relevant these days.

"It's no different when I went to Asia, people said what do I know about that market but I was able to identify players we might want to look at, what teams were doing etc.

"I've looked at where I'd put players at Halifax, what system I'd play. They've got to make sure they keep players, keeping Will Harris is going to be important.

"There's a lot of young talent in there. There's areas we'd need to strengthen, but I'd be able to identify those areas.

"I've already done an analysis on the squad and I think playing with a back three would really suit this team.

"If the comment was about a lack of experience in the division - yeah, that's true.

"But what I have got is experience with coaching and dealing with personalities. I've been honing my craft for two decades, at very high levels, and I'd make sure that I surrounded myself with good people who will cover any areas I have gaps in."