The future is bright for Rochdale according to manager Keith Hill who spoke to MM about his long-term vision for the club.
Hill’s plan is for Dale to achieve promotion from League Two, a goal they may yet reach this season, as they have been competing at the top of table practically all campaign.
The Rochdale boss is keen to make progress and says that developing a football team is a lot like developing a house.
“I just bought a new house and it looks like the perfect house to live in but all of sudden, you have to make alterations to suit your living standard and it’s the same with a football club,” Hill told MM.
“Once I get all the external, fundamental foundations in place, then I can start building the interior how I want and it’s the same here (at Rochdale) and I believe that it’s a long-term project, but we also want short term success and I think we’re getting that.
“We can see the player development (and) we’re winning football matches on a regular basis, it’s only early but we’re building and it’s important we get those fundamental foundations in place for the future of the football club.”
A key component in the future Hill talks about, are the emerging young talents at Rochdale including Jamie Allen, Joe Bunney and Bastien Hery.
“It’s really exciting to have young players emerging,” said Hill. “But we can’t press too hard on young shoulders, we’ve got to make sure we give them their opportunity.”
“We’ll dip them in and dip them out (of the team) but there are some very good young players here and it’s important that we nurture them (and) make sure that they have an understanding about the functions of the team.
“That’s where the future can be bright.”
The 44-year-old is in his second spell as Rochdale manager having re-joined the club in January 2013 following an unsuccessful period in charge of Barnsley.
In his first reign as Dale boss, Hill made history by securing Rochdale’s first promotion in 41 years in 2010 and then leading the club to their highest league finish since 1970 by finishing ninth in League One the following season.
With his side in the promotion mix, Hill believes he can repeat the trick and even one day reach the Championship with Dale as similarly-sized clubs Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town have done in recent seasons.
“I believe that I can take them definitely back to League One and then League One would be a steadying process with respect to the recruitment drive and making sure we can maintain League One status,” added Hill.
“If we get promoted we’ll invest in the same way that we’re investing now, by developing young players (who become) sellable assets and recruiting one or two players who have got experience of League One and building from there.
“I do believe we can build in the same way that Scunthorpe have previously done it and the same way that Yeovil have done it, I don’t see a reason why we can’t do that as well.”
Image courtesy of Rochdale FC, with thanks
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