If he were to stay on as joint-manager at Hurst Cross, that would mean Ashton United ranking third on his list of priorities. That’s something he believes would be unfair to a club that has been very good to him.
“I’ve missed out on too many Christmases and bank holidays. I’ve had to go out on Christmas mornings when the kids were opening their presents, or they’d have to save some to open when I got back,” Haining explained.
“If I was still in full-time football I might be prepared to carry on doing that, but as my life stands now the family come first, and then it’s my job. That means football is third which wouldn’t be fair to Ashton United and they don’t deserve that.
“Ashton are a great club with great fans and great people. I would never want to cheat them.”
Fatherhood has given former Oldham Athletic defender Haining a new perspective in life. Like lots of parents, he’s well aware of how quickly his children will grow up and of how much could be lost to him.
He added: “My kids come first and always will do. Sometimes with work and training and games I might see them on a Monday and then not again until Wednesday. I realise I’m not getting to spend as much time with them as I should.
“If they had been a bit older I might have got away with it, but I’ve been missing out on too many things. It’s time to take a step back and spend what spare time I’ve got with my family.”
Haining strongly refutes any suggestion that his desire to be with his wife and children is just an excuse like the oft-cited business commitments, to mask behind-the-scenes disagreements.
“My family are the only reason I’m leaving Ashton United. There’s been no fall-out with the players, with Jody Banim or the board, and I’m not looking at anything else. It’s just personal issues,” he said.
“I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever go back into management, but what I will say is that I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Ashton United as a player and as a manager.”