Grant Black named as new Brighouse Town manager

Black will be joined at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium by Mick Norbury, as part of a new-look management team for Town.

Black was most recently at the helm of Ossett United. He took charge in October 2022 and spent 14 months with the club before leaving just before Christmas last year.

He led Ossett to a 15th-placed in the NPL East Division during the 2022/23 season but endured a difficult start to 2023/24 - his side picking up just 19 points from their opening 18 league games.

Prior to arriving at Ingfield, Black spent four years in charge of Belper and led the Nailers to promotion to the Northern Premier League during the 2021/22 season.

However, they won just one of their opening seven league games at Step 3 level during the campaign that followed, and the club announced that they had "reluctantly parted ways" with Black.

He previously enjoyed success with Ossett Town, taking them from relegation candidates to a play-off final within the space of 16 months before leaving in 2018 to take charge at Belper.

On Black's appointment, a club statement said: "Both Grant and Mick have extensive successful managerial experience and were identified very early on as the pairing that Brighouse would like to see steering the club forward over the next few years.

"They have been initially appointed on a two-year contact with options to extend this, and we are confident that this is the start of another long-term managerial association."

Brighouse finished second-bottom in the NPL East Division last season but could yet be in line for a Step 4 reprieve, depending on which division Marske United and Southern League side Nuneaton Borough are placed in for 2024/25.

The pair were forced to drop out of their respective leagues last season due to financial difficulties.

Photo credit: Belper Town