Gaffer looking ahead after 200th victory

SATURDAY’S victory against Gillingham marked Keith Hill’s 200th victory as Rochdale manager.

Hill, who spent 18 months at Barnsley either side of his two spells at Dale, described the landmark as ‘special,’ but was, typically, already looking to the future.

“I didn’t realise it was the 200th win,” he admitted after the 4-1 triumph. “Has any other manager won 200 games for Rochdale? I might put a statue in my back garden one day!

“It’s special but we are always chasing more and more success.

“We hadn’t won in ten and I am very fortunate to be in this position because up and down the country there are knee-jerk reactions. I don’t understand some of it – you appoint somebody then you sack them within three months!

“They end up spending a load of money and I jus don’t understand the modern football psychology of appointing managers, as though there’s plenty of good ones out there.

“Neil Warnock was right when he said there are not a lot of good managers out there and that he had no fear of getting the sack because he knew he could get another job.

“He’s probably the best in the business and rivals himself against everybody else.

“But to win 200 games for Rochdale is something special for me and for my family.

“I will enjoy the victory but I was already preparing mentally for Millwall on Tuesday.”