JOHN Francis is back in football after a very short absence, having just joined Brighouse Town as joint-assistant manager.

Francis left the Albion Sports hotseat a couple of weeks ago, along with long-serving chairman Jaj Singh, following a difficult Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division season.

The club sat second-bottom, having lost eight league games in a row, when the season was declared null and void in March.

In an interview with the T&A last week, Francis said he'd had a good experience during his year in charge of Albion, but that the club is in dire need of a proper infrastructure to help it grow.

Hopefully he will get that infrastructure he craves as Vill Powell's joint-assistant at Brighouse.

Town play at a higher level than Albion, in the Northern Premier League Division One North West, and have made a number of strong signings already in the close season, including attacking duo Eli Hey and Laurence Sorhaindo.

Francis is looking forward to a more professional approach and thinks Brig could achieve promotion.

He said: “They wanted me last season, but I refused it at the time because I was at Albion.

“It is going to be interesting to see how things go. We have got a big managerial team, which will help, because the more support the better. 

“You have got two assistants and a couple of coaches too so it all seems more professional. We can bounce off each other. We all have knowledge and experience. 

“I am excited to get involved in it. The players and the facilities are at a slightly higher standard (than at Albion).

“We're aiming for promotion and to get as high as possible, but also to build the club.”