HILL NOT DONE YET WITH HIS SUMMER SHOPPING

Rochdale manager feels that some of the players at Spotland cannot take the club any further

ROCHDALE manager Keith Hill admits he will have to sign some more players to get his team up to the high standard he requires.

Dale have made several signings so far this summer, bringing in the likes of Lewis Alessandra, Donal McDermott and Jim NcNulty.

Hill still isn’t completely happy with his squad, though, and hopes to bring in some new names before the League One kick-off.

“I need to go into the transfer market because I want improvement and on evidence of what I’ve seen there are one or two players that can’t take us further,” he said.

“It’s no good using the same players and expecting them to get better. One or two players have been left behind and while I’m good friends with those players, this is a ruthless business.

“I’m in a hurry to bring in at least one or two players. We need to make sure we’re strong in certain areas of the pitch but we’ll never know just how good we are until we face Peterborough next week.

“I believe that one or two of the players that performed exceptionally well last season are falling a bit short and, in my eyes, that’s not good enough.

“At the start of pre-season I told some of the players in no uncertain terms what was required and they haven’t turned up with those developments.”

With that said, Hill is glad to have got through almost all of pre-season with the majority of his team intact.

“I’m reasonably happy as we more or less have a clean bill of health with the players that have played regularly throughout these friendly games.”

Dale host MK Dons in their final pre-season friendly this afternoon.

League rivals Bury also host a side promoted from League One last term as they welcome Preston to Gigg Lane.

Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the Championship last term, finish their pre-season campaign away to Blackburn.

Bolton played host to Championship rivals Charlton last night in their final friendly and drew 2-2.

The Addicks twice fought back after Darren Pratley and substitute Liam Feeney scored for Bolton.

Keith Hill is looking to make another couple of signings before Dale host Peterborough in next week’s season opener