Carlisle United's Cumbrian rivals Barrow AFC have today confirmed the appointment of Pete Wild as their new manager.

The 38-year-old has left FC Halifax Town in order to take charge at Holker Street on a three-year deal.

Wild emerged as the Bluebirds' top target after the recent departure of Phil Brown.

And they have now secured his services after Halifax's season ended with defeat in the National League play-offs.

Chairman Paul Hornby, speaking on Barrow's website, said: “We are delighted to welcome Pete to Barrow.

“He’s a manager who has been on our radar for some time, due to the phenomenal job he’s done over the past three years at FC Halifax Town.

“He’s not only a good young coach, but he can spot and develop young players.

“He’s exactly the type of manager we were after and he immediately bought into what we are trying to build here at Barrow.”

Wild becomes the south Cumbrian club's sixth manager since returning to the Football League in 2020 after David Dunn, Michael Jolley, Rob Kelly, Mark Cooper and Brown.

The former Oldham Athletic manager attracted praise for steering Halifax to fourth in non-league's top tier.

The Shaymen punched above their weight against some bigger-spending rivals.

But their bid for promotion ended in disappointment when they lost 2-1 to Chesterfield in Tuesday's eliminator game.

Wild refused to be drawn on his future after that match - with a move to Barrow having been in the offing amid interest from other clubs including Hartlepool United.

Now, after growing speculation linking him with the Holker Street post, the former Oldham Athletic manager becomes Barrow's sixth manager since the club returned to the Football League two years ago.

Wild will link up with new sporting director Iain Wood to reshape the Barrow squad for the 2022/23 season.

Halifax confirmed Wild's departure in a statement last night in which they said of the former Oldham Athletic man: "We’d like to put on record our sincere gratitude to Pete for an exciting three seasons, achieving two playoff finishes and a top ten finish.

"Despite the disappointing conclusion to the campaign, Pete Wild gave us a memorable final season with some incredible moments and we wish him and his family all the best for the future."

Wild himself posted a farewell message on the Halifax website in which he thanked the club and its fans.

He also said: "I'm ambitious, I'm driven and I want to make the best of what can be a short career, and I feel this is the right time topass the baton on to the next man and strike while the iron is hot."

He said Halifax had "tried everything" to keep him and that it had been a "massively tough" decision to leave.

Barrow finished third bottom in League Two last season, six points above the relegation zone, nine points behind 20th-placed Carlisle.

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