The Club can confirm that Chris Millington has stepped down from his role as Manager of FC Halifax Town.
Across three seasons and 155 games as Manager (three years prior as Assistant Manager under Pete Wild), Chris has led the team to two play-off finishes and a victory in the 2023 FA Trophy Final.
Chris has provided a memorable three years (six years in total) for the Shaymen and we wish he and his family all the very best for the future.
Chris Millington
‘After a great deal of soul searching I have decided to stand down from my position as Halifax Town manager. It has been a privilege to represent the club and indeed the town of Halifax as first team manager and assistant over the last 6 years.
I have been privileged to work with some outstanding people through the playing staff and the non playing staff. Special thanks to Andy Cooper for his loyalty and unwavering support, the rest of the staff for their diligence and commitment, David Bosomworth for his patience and guidance and of course the rest of the back office staff who have been so supportive along the way. The players have been a joy to work with and we could not have achieved 2 play-off finishes and an FA Trophy win at Wembley without the support of the fans.
I am devastated that I will not be the man to lead Halifax Town back to the EFL but I believe the time is right for a change of manager at FCHT. The Club needs a manager to come and build on the solid foundation and positive reputation that has been built over the last 6 years.
The Club will always hold a special place in my heart and I wish everyone connected all the best and I look forward to the day I can visit The Shay Stadium to watch Halifax Town as a Football League team’.
David Bosomworth – Chairman
‘Contributing to this announcement is a particularly sad task for myself. When appointing Chris three years ago to replace Pete Wild it was a leap of faith having gone through a quite intensive interview process, that there was little or no doubt that Chris was the right man for the job and so it has proved. Within the budget constraints we work within, Chris, his staff and players have all given their best for the success for the Club. In his first year, to win the FA Trophy was an outstanding achievement and for everyone attending Wembley with the Shaymen at heart, it was a day out to be treasured. Those opportunities are rare and some Clubs, staff or player’s never get such an opportunity. We did for a second time!
To finish in the play-offs two years running is a wonderful achievement and Chris and all can be rightfully proud of that. Let’s be honest in both the last two seasons (and yes I hear the voices who say we never get beyond the first eliminator match on all five previous occasions), we have been dealt a desperately unlucky deck of cards. Chris has never moaned. At the end of 2023-24 season, the farce around the pitch, all the resultant match postponements, cramming of fixtures, loss of our home venue for the last three matches and having to play four games in a week, all away from home and one in Southampton. To then be expected to roll out away at Solihull in peak form and fitness for a play-off fixture was always going to be a tall order. Despite that and an awful start in the game, they made a fight of it. This season, we have probably lost a fourth/fifth place finish and a home tie in the first play-off eliminator when very handily placed, due to an unprecedented injury list. At times we were without nine players and despite bringing in seven loans/signings to support Chris and the staff/team, the away fixture at Oldham became a bridge too far.
His dedication, commitment and desire to succeed has been nothing other than a breath of fresh air. Of course the need for more goals was recognised but not that easy to fix. Despite all that, we have been successful and to those who think being in the top seven is ‘a given’, you need to think again. Every point is hard earned and we have been particularly successful away from home and along with Chris it is important to acknowledge the tremendous support of the fans. To give six years of your life to help support a project and then take on the overall responsibility for that project is physically and mentally demanding and he has given his all. From me it is a huge ‘thank you’ to Chris and whatever he decides to do in the future we wish him well and he is always assured of a warm welcome at the Shay’.
We now have the task of securing the right replacement for Chris and he has agreed to help with the interview process.
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