Harleston Town chairman Adam Mullin delighted to appoint Sheringham’s double promotion-winning manager Matt Halliday to succeed Danny Crow having been number one target

Harleston Town have appointed Sheringham’s former double promotion-winning manager Matt Halliday as Danny Crow’s successor in the dugout at the Recreation Ground – with chairman Adam Mullin revealing he was always their number one target.

Halliday, whose arrival was broken by the club last night, was recently relieved of his duties as manager of higher-league Wroxham, having gone to the Yatchsmen as assistant to Jordan Southgate in May.

He becomes only the fourth manager since 2009 to be appointed by Mullin, and he believes that after overseeing the last five games himself, the month-long wait to replace Crow following the former professional’s resignation, will prove to be worth it.

“We have got the right man. We had loads of people applying and spoke to lots of people but he was the one we wanted and it’s worked out well,” he said.

“He left Wroxham on the Saturday night and I think we contacted him on the Sunday.

“It was not a knee-jerk reaction from any of us. We knew what he was about as he has had tremendous success.

“We explained our situation of being a club that is living without our means and he has come onboard and we are delighted he is with us as I think he will be brilliant for the club. He is a top, top manager and brilliant coach.”

Halliday, who is set to name his number two in the coming days, inherits a Harleston team lying in 16th place, two places and five points above the relegation zone in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division table, but with games in hand on those around them.

Mullin’s last match proved to be a 1-0 away defeat to in-form Woodbridge Town on Saturday in a fifth straight win for Luke Hyam’s side which saw Liam Ablitt score the only goal in the first half. The Magpies’ Joshua Durham was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the dying minutes.

Halliday’s arrival, which will see him take charge of the team for the first time at home to high-flying Thetford Town on Saturday (3pm), was announced by a club statement.

It read: “Harleston Town are delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Halliday as first-team manager.

“Matt comes in with a wealth of experience most recently with Sheringham and Wroxham.

“With his spell at Sheringham he achieved two promotions, winning both the Anglian Combination title and the Thurlow Nunn Division North (sic) when both Sheringham and Town were battling for top spot in 2022.

“He most recently had a spell at Wroxham as assistant manager and manager, but now will be the lead man for Town.”

Chairman Mullin was also quoted in the statement saying: “ Since 2009 this Team has only had four managers so this was a decision the club wanted to take time on.

“We believe that Matt is the man that will take us forward after the foundations set by Danny Crow and Tom Marsden.”