Hill tackling his toughest times
KEITH Hill has described the current climate at Rochdale as the toughest in all his years with the club.
Hill has been a player, coach and manager at Dale, an association stretching back 23 years. The club’s most successful ever boss, he was targeted by boo boys on Saturday during a 4-0 home defeat by Burton Albion.
The loss came on the back of 4-0 and 5-0 defeats by Bradford and Doncaster, and Hill admitted the going was tough – but insisted he was not afraid to stand alone in turning things round.
“This is the toughest time I have experienced as manager of Rochdale,” direction. It’s a recipe for the board, the supporters, and you have to be brave really proud to be part of he said. “When I first disaster at the minute – we the players – they have in front of your audience. my family and I consider came back to the club it are conceding goals. helped establish this club If you are brave in front of Rochdale to be part of my was a tough ask, and that’s “You can’t ignore it, you as a League One club and your audience, they will family. no disrespect to John can’t bury your head in we don’t want that to be respect you, they will start “I’ve had hard times Coleman. the sand – you have got to destroyed, we want to try following you again and before, but not like that
“That was tough, keeping take it on. to build. they will start enjoying from my perspective, Rochdale in the Football “But what I can’t do, I “It’s going to be difficult your football and the players being manager of Rochdale, League that season. can’t keep reminding the because there’s a lot of will start to enjoy their I’ve not had a day From a psychological, players of the mistakes hard feelings, a lot of people football again. like Saturday.” lack of support point of that they are making are hurt, a lot of people “We have to dig our own Harrison McGahey view, this is as hard as it’s because they could freeze see that we’re not playing way out, there is no quick departed the club for been. I’d love the support completely and we could well and they have to hold fix, no miracle money tree Scunthorpe on Friday – but I’m not afraid of my end up in a worse position. their temper. that we can shake and while David Perkins own company. “But the race is not run. invest in a lot of players to joined Tranmere, and Hill
“I am concerned, every “We have probably got Last season I think we had make us better, so I have is aware he needs to bolster manager would be. I am to use the carrot a lot more a 13-game season which got to work with this group the squad. concerned about the goals than the stick – there is no went down to a one-game of players, try to bring one “We need players but that we are conceding, the need for anyone to use the season. In the depths of or two in and hopefully we we have to make sure we lack of performances – the stick in this situation we despair, Oxford away, we can turn the corner get the right ones in,” he biggest concern for me is are in. Unless the powers found a way to beat Charlton. together. said. the lack of confidence and that be and the people You could argue, “But it’s important that “A lot of things can composure. The players who have helped to create when we lost at Oxford, we stick together. I am a make an impact and affect know how to play the this success self implode we were down. But we traditional man build on players – where you are in game but they are struggling and self destroy. It found something and that family foundations and the league, the stability of a little bit. shouldn’t be like that. is what we have to do. You I’ve had bad times in my the club, finances, accommodation,
“It’s a whirlwind and it “What we’ve done at have to cling on, have family but we have always bonus money has taken us in the wrong this club, the chairman, desire, a fighting spirit stuck together and I’m etc, etc.”
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