So far, so good in recruitment drive
ROBBIE Stockdale was able to reflect on a successful start to his recruitment drive this summer as he and his squad travelled home from their pre-season training camp in Scotland on Friday.
The Dale chief and his staff welcomed former Doncaster Rovers defender Cameron John into the fold earlier in the week after the 22-year-old agreed a two-year deal with the club.
And John’s arrival fits in with Stockdale’s threepart plan for recruitment this summer.
“I think it just goes to show what a little tle bit of planning can do,” he said. “We didn’t really have that option when I came into the job a year ago. There were ere aspects of recruitment itment that I wanted to try and get right in this window – I had in my mind where the team had maybe struggled a little bit last year.
“Three parts of recruitment were important to me – bringing in some experience, some knowhow of the level and people who have had success at our level, for one.
“Secondly, bringing in those early to mid-range twenty-something players who we can improve and who might have a point to prove as well to other people. Players we think we can develop and help them kick on in their careers, so that it’s a platform for them to aim for.
“A little bit later in the window we will look at the loan market again.
“We’ve had loads of discussions with clubs but it’s very difficult with loans as parent clubs often don’t want their players to leave the preseason training camp where they are.
“The clubs I’m talking to will have lots of international players who have been away and they obviously don’t report back until later on, which has a knock-on effect for the players coming out of theparent clubs.
“So there were three parts to my recruitment and I feel we have the experience in the building now with Richard (O’donnell), Ethan (Ebanks-landell), Toums (Toumani Diagouraga) and then we have Devante (Rodney) and Cameron ( John) – they are that midtwenties age range, ready to kick on. I’m quite happy.”
In terms of the loan market, Stockdale hinted that talks are at an advanced stage with a couple of players. And while he ap appreciates fans ar are desperate to know who’s coming in, they may just have to wait and see a few more weeks. “I’m in talks with a couple l of f players with their parent clubs. It might be a case where we can strike a deal so that stay where they are and do pre-season with them,” he said.
“Obviously our fans would want to know who those players are but we won’t be letting that out, I have to keep my cards close to my chest on that one.
“The other side of it is, there will be some surprises. Last summer we got a couple of players late in the window, after the first game in fact, they came on the radar.
“All those players who are out of contract who think that they’re holding out for clubs in higher divisions, they see everybody else back in pre-season now and start to get a little bit twitchy and the phone starts ringing again.
“I’m really pleased with the business we’ve done, there’s no hurry to keep adding, adding, adding, but we do need a couple more bodies.”
In terms of John, Stockdale believes he has a player of real calibre.
He rose though the youth system at Wolverhampton Wanderers before going out on a season-long to Doncaster Rovers during the 2019/20 campaign.
A successful stint there saw him make a permanent switch to the Keepmoat Stadium in the summer of 2020 for an undisclosed fee.
He also impressed during his time with the Wolves Academy and was a key member of the under-23 side which secured promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 in 2018/19. He wore the Captain’s armband on several occasions as the side won the title.
Injury last season denied him game time – but Stockdale said he’s ready to kick on now.
“Cameron is a player I’ve liked for a long time. He had his injury issues last year but he’s passed our medical, he’s fully fit and raring to go,” he said.
“He’ll give great balance to the team – he’s quick, athletic and can play in a couple of positions, which I like because it gives us flexibility. I’ve always said I wanted to bring in more quality rather than having more bodies to the squad, so having players who can play in one or two positions benefits the squad.
“He seems a really bubbly boy, really lively and he’s settled into the group really well.
“We’re looking forward to getting him up to speed. His training programme is a little bit different to the boys who have been with us for the whole of preseason.”
John travelled up to Scotland on Sunday evening to join up with the rest of the squad for the preseason camp north of the border.
“It’s gone Stockdale.
“We came back to Rochdale last Wednesday, the boys did a bit of testing and physical work and we travelled up to Scotland on Sunday – we brought the weather up with us! It’s been wet but well,” said it’s been enjoyable and the boys have been working ever so hard, the facilities are very good and so far it’s been a very successful trip.
“I think it’s important to get a few days away, it gives you a mental break from being at the training ground and the same routine, secondly, with the new players we’ve brought in they can get to know the staff, the players and vice versa in an environment where we live in each others’ pckets for four or five days.
“I’ve really enjoyed that aspect, getting to know the players and I’m sure we will benefit later down the line from this trip away.”