It was a similar story to that of the man he replaced in the job, Jeff Moore, who while seemingly doing much to repair the fortunes of a club dead on its feet, was hardly in the public spotlight enough to know exactly who he was, and what he was doing.
Upon ending his time in charge, Moore stated a plan he felt he had been working towards, a visionary blueprint that would see Championship level football by 2012.
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JAH however is the man charged to bring it on.
After allegedly rejecting a very good offer by Adam Pearson to take the majority shareholding at the club, the Supporters Trust were much criticised, and JAH could quite easily have been made a scapegoat.
Pearson has since taken over at Premiership strugglers Derby County, and is set to bankroll a busy January transfer window for Paul Jewell.
But at the other end of the scale, JAH is going about his business in a more than efficient manner, and appears to be putting Notts firmly back on the map - even with vision 2012 weighing firmly on his shoulders thanks to Mr Moore, who couldn't have timed that better on his account.
The thing that matters ultimately is the football on the picth. While everything needs to be right in off-field matters, everything points to when the players have crossed that white line. That is what the game is about.
So from that point of view JAH couldn't have arrived at a much worse time. Because despite the promises of vision 2012, it wasn't he who had earmarked it, and with Notts struggling in the lower reaches of League Two, he had a fight on his hand immediately, not withstanding five years down the line.
The fans were calling for Steve Thompson's dismissal. Thompson's pre-season pledge, along with Moore, that the playoffs were the target had fallen on death ears as Notts looked mere relegation fodder.
However, Thompson announced to the media that he and JAH had held talks and were "singing from the same hymn sheet."
He was fired just six games later as fans roundly chanted "we want Thommo out" during a 3-1 home defeat to Bury on October 16.
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Because Ian 'Charlie' McParland, a hero on the terraces during a hugely successful spell as a player at Meadow Lane in the 80s, was watching as Thompson swung closer to the axe.
McParland had a successful time in temporary charge with fierce rivals Nottingham Forest, and was immediately installed as a favourite and the fans choice to replace Thompson.
As it transpires NCM are led to understand that McParland had been offered the job before the Bury game.
And so he was appointed almost immediately, and the fans at this time couldn't be best pleased.
Sure McParland has changed little in the way of results, and suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit to Conference South part-timers Havant and Waterlooville.
But he is moving the club on, and the fans remain on his side, keen to give extra patience to a man so respected. His attitude, desire and know-how do suggest he will change things around.
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JAH however kept on going. Even little things such as extra publicity were covered with Notts appearing on cult Saturday morning football show, Sky's Soccer AM, twice in two months.
First we had Neil MacKenzie frolicking around in a horse's head as no player hit the target in the Crossbar Challenge, before more recently JAH himself gave the camera's a guided tour of Meadow Lane.
Small things they may be, but they help with publicity, and help with getting the club back on the map.
There have been other things.
With Notts facing a spell of three home games in seven days, and with the average attendance well down owing to poor form, JAH took action to help the fans out.
Yes it was to improve the club's gate, but by introducing reduced admission prices for the two Saturday games in that spell - the ill-fated Havant tie and the crucial win over Shrewsbury a week later - JAH had aided a better attendance, and done so in a manner which suggested he was in touch with the fan and on their side.
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And now JAH has put plans in place to bring back the much needed youth setup at Meadow Lane.
Hopes of the next Tommy Johnson coming through the ranks have been revitalised as the centre of excellence, which broke down in May 2006 through a lack of funds, is set to return.
Finding the next talent, firstly to aid the teams development and secondly to potentially create the club extra finance similar to recent deals such as former centre of excellence stars Leon Best and David McGoldrick.
It has been badly missed, alike with the reserve team which could and should be the next on JAH's hitlist.
Can he get any better?