Wanderers announce further changes to coaching staff in an off-season marked by change
Although the Halifax Wanderers announced head coach and general manager Vanni Sartini's recruitment in December, there was always going to be another shoe to drop as several questions surrounded the club's coaching staff and executive.
Those answers arrived on Monday as the club announced it had brought in a new face in Daryl Fordyce, who was previously a player at Valour before joining their coaching staff, and a familiar one in Jed Davies as Sartini's assistant coaches. Together, with long-time goalkeeper coach Jan-Michael Williams, not to mention the returns of Nick Edward (head of performance) and Alex Sheppard (head of analysis), the club rounded out their staff for 2026.
“Jan is a club staple as a coach and has done a lot of amazing work to help build the Wanderers on and off the pitch, and as head of goalkeeping, will have a massive impact on developing both current and future keepers in our team," said Sartini in a press release.
“Nick has vast experience in player performance, embodies the qualities of the modern game and is a massive asset both on and off the field. Alex is an emerging local coach, and you need people with his expertise in today’s game to help make informed decisions using video analysis.”
However, it's important to note the substantial changes the club has undergone already this off-season. There is, of course, the departure of former head coach Patrice Gheisar in October. The club declined contract options on six players, letting another five walk into free agency. And the latest coaching changes — confirming the departures of Giovanni Petraglia, Jessie Burgins and Oliver Hewish, all of whom were part of Gheisar's staff last year — further highlighted the degree of fluctuation.
It's now the second off-season in a row where the Wanderers have made changes to their coaching complement as Jorden Feliciano and Davies departed after the 2024 season and Petraglia, Burgins, Hewish and Gheisar have parted ways following a disappointing playoff loss to York United FC. It's also important to note Burgins and Hewish were part of the local football landscape, although Burgins left for a job in Ottawa in June.
Petraglia's departure, who joined the club last year, has an added wrinkle as sources told HFX Football Post he was one of the candidates interviewed for the head coaching role which Sartini ultimately landed. Despite not getting the job, he remained in Halifax to help with the club's U-18 program following the end of the season. But he, too, will not be back.
Others changes include Matt Fegan's role, who has long held more responsibilities than a director of football, as he transitions to the club's vice president of football operations. His duties include assisting the first-team on and off the pitch, as well as helping to build the Wanderers' development program.
It's also expected that the club will begin making player announcements this week.
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
