New Shaymen boss Darren Kelly has staying power

SECOND bottom of the table and hopelessly out of form, the FC Halifax job may be seen as a poisoned chalice.

Especially for a young manager with it all to prove after being unceremonious cast aside in his first job.

But Darren Kelly is having none of it. His message, in fact, is quite a straightforward one: ‘Bring it on!’

Kelly replaced Shay legend Neil Aspin in charge of Halifax after a glory-filled six years which saw the club rise from the Evo-Stik NPL North to the Conference play-offs.

But this year the Shaymen have struggled badly – before yesterday’s home game with Cheltenham they earned just three points from a possible 18 on offer. Kelly is just glad to be back in football.

Ruthlessly axed by League One Oldham a fortnight ago following less than two months and nine games at the helm, he is straight back in.

Joined by his Boundary Park right-hand man Jim Harvey, the 57-year-old ex-Forest Green, Chester, Morecambe and Stalybridge boss adds a wealth of experience.

Kelly, the 36-year-old ex-Carlisle, York, Portadown, Garforth and Scarborough Athletic defender believes the Northern Irish takeover of west Yorkshire can spark something special.

The Derry-born manager told The NLP: “I’ll say it loud and clear. This is a great challenge, so I say bring it on.

“It’s been a difficult time. I had my plans at Oldham, it didn’t work out. But some things you have just got to leave in the past – there’s not too much point looking back, it’s time to move on.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into this and I’ll be doing it my way. I learned a lot about myself in my short time at Oldham and it’s made me more hungry.

“The club are in a tricky position but Jim and I are excited about being given this opportunity. I’ll say it again – bring it on!”