Stand united in time of change
KEITH Hill was delighted to see his players issue the perfect response to his critics with a welcome 2-1 victory at Southend on Saturday.
Hill’s detractors were quick to stick the boot in when Dale were beaten 2-1 by Plymouth at home seven days earlier, when Josh Lillis’ slip proved decisive.
The result prompted a small section of supporters to hit out at Hill and the manager admitted their over-reaction to the result had hurt him and the players.
But their response was to pick up the club’s first three-point return at Roots Hall for 33 years, Jordan Williams and Callum Camps netting either side of a John White equaliser.
And with changes in progress at boardroom level, Hill said the club needs to stick together at this crucial time.
“The club needs to be united because there is a wind of change, obviously at boardroom level,” said Hill.
“I believe that the new board believe in the success that we’ve had at this club while I have been in charge and how I have brought that success, with player sales, finances and points on the pitch.
“It shouldn’t be forgotten but there is a rough to every smooth that you get in life and you have to decide whether you are compatible through thick and thin.
“I love working for this club and I support this club. It was a very satisfying performance and it keeps a composure to
‘It does feel like a marriage. Last Monday I was filing for divorce’
what we are trying to do and what we are trying to achieve.
“You are so often judged on results and we were judged last week when we got beaten by Plymouth. There was an over-reaction – I thought we’d played some nice stuff but we didn’t really penetrate whereas against Southend we looked as though we could penetrate.
“There were no negative tactics from Southend, they gave us the space in behind where it was difficult against Plymouth. There wasn’t a lot wrong last week, the mistake at the end cost us a valuable point.
“I haven’t punished Josh by leaving him out, I felt the time was right to give Brendan a run and see where we go with it, because we want a positive change at this club.
“A wind of change is necessary to promote us into that feelgood factor football club who want to be ambitious and live with the starts of League One and try to triumph.”
Hill admitted he had been brought low by some of the unfair criticism in the aftermath of the Plymouth result.
“At times it does feel like a marriage, myself and Rochdale,” he said. “Last Monday I was seeing the solicitor and filing for divorce, because I was really hurt by a lot of the criticism. People are trying to undermine what it is I am trying to do at this club without understanding it. They don’t understand sacrifices that I have marvellous relationship Hill said the fact Dale honest football club and I “I enjoyed Saturday and made for the future of this and success with whoever had gone more than three thought personally there I’ve enjoyed this week. club. I’ve worked with at this club decades without winning was far too much criticism After we got beat last
“But I bounced well. I and Chris Dunphy has at Southend – hardly one for losing last week’s game week, I wasn’t low with spoke to some very influential been instrumental in that. of the more illustrious and it hurt me and it hurt the performance, but I people, Andrew “But there is new clubs in League One – the players. was low with some of the Kelly being one of them, change and it’s important served as a reminder of “But we responded well criticism that I thought and we came up with the that we map out our strategy just where the club are and perhaps sometimes that the club, myself and right conclusion. for success in the coming from. you need that kick up the the players had received
“Hopefully this is the future. We have to try to “It would be nice if backside. But 33 years not but we’ve bounced really start of a new chapter of guide the club this season some of the critical supporters to win here, it tells its own well. my time and the players’ to League One status and could be reminded story about the history of “I thank the supporters time at this club. then try again to rebuild of the fact we’d gone 33 the football club and that’s for turning up and I’m
“I am very optimistic, the team, the infrastructure years without winning why we shouldn’t be complacent glad we got result. I hope and this is in no way a criticism to be more successful here because they too easily with League One they enjoyed it, and hopefully of previous board n the next ten, fifteen, criticise and it’s a and enjoy every moment it’s forward and members. I have had a twenty years.” shame because we are an of it. upwards.”
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