FC Halifax Town boss John McGrath embraces challenge ahead in National League

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John McGrath says he is relishing the challenge of an increasingly competitive National League next season after being appointed FC Halifax Town manager earlier this week.

McGrath replaces Adam Lakeland at The Shay following his departure to Morecambe.

The 46-year-old Irishman would have faced the Shrimps boss in National League North next season, but instead leaves Buxton after two years in charge to test himself at Step 1 level.

He guided the Bucks to back-to-back play-off campaigns during his spell at The Silverlands.

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Challenge

Following Tuesday’s announcement, McGrath said: “I’m really excited to get underway. [I am] joining a big club.

“I’m a progressive manager. I think I’m joining a club that wants to go forward, move forward. So, yeah, I’m really excited to get started.”

On the scale of the task awaiting him in the National League, McGrath said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be a challenge because there’s a lot of big clubs in the division, there’s a lot of big budgets.

“There’s a lot of good players as players coming out of the Football League now to play in the National League, so it’ll be really competitive.

“What we will be is we’ll be a fit, energetic side. We’ll play good football and we’ll be competitive.”

McGrath, who was part of the Burton side that won the then-Conference Premier title in 2009, added: “It’s got a lot tougher division – there’s a lot of big clubs in it now.

“You’ve just seen Rochdale and York go [up], but it’s still really, really competitive. We know the task ahead, but we look forward to it.

True gentleman

McGrath also praised Halifax chairman David Bosomworth after completing his move to the West Yorkshire outfit.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s been great,” he explained. “I actually interviewed for the job a few years ago when Pete Wild got it, so I was seeing him again.

“He’s a great guy, he’s a true gentleman, he’s got Halifax Town in his heart, so he’s really supportive of me.

“It was a tense few days for the last couple, so I’m just glad now that it’s done, it’s got announced and I can get my teeth into the job.

Bosomworth admitted the club were “hugely disappointed” to lose Lakeland, but says Halifax moved quickly to identify McGrath as his successor.

”We are delighted that John McGrath has accepted the role and responsibilities of first team manager,” he said.

”We recognise and applaud John’s ambition to continue to build on the foundations laid by our previous managers.”

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