Mcnulty keeping focus on the field
Gaffer looking for fourth win on bounce against backdrop of takeover rumours
HEAD coach Jim Mcnulty will concentrate his players’ focus on matters on the field this weekend as speculation mounts over a takeover at Rochdale AFC.
Dale return to London a week after their 2-1 victory at Dagenham & Redbridge, this time to face Bromley, where Mcnulty’s men will be bidding for a fourth successive win in the National League.
They do so against the backdrop of a week which has seen off-the-field issues come to the fore. The club has been linked an imminent takeover and a failure to pay staff and players in full this month.
News of the wages issue at the club was broken earlier in the week by journalist Pete O’rourke, who tweeted on X: “Hearing Rochdale have failed to pay their players and staff their full wages for November. Players and staff have only been paid 25% of their wages amid talk of an imminent takeover at the National League club.”
Observer Sport has been told the issue over wages was down to an administrative error – staff should have been informed of the club’s intention to make November’s payment on the 30th of the month.
Club bosses acknowledged the error, so paid out a weeks’ wages with the balance to be paid on Thursday as the Observer went to press.
In terms of the takeover, talks are ongoing with several parties. Expectations among the fanbase were heightened in midweek when a company named JNG Capital Group Limited listed their registered address as the Crown Oil Arena, Sandy Lane, Rochdale.
However, at the time of going to press, it was deemed too soon for the club to make an announcement, with JNG one of a number of companies formed with the possibility of being a vehicle to buy the club.
Nevertheless, it’s a situation supporters will hope can be sorted soon – with the caveat that the right kind of new owners are handed the reins, given the Morton House MGT experience.
In the meantime, another positive result on the road today will maintain the feelgood factor between Mcnulty and the fanbase.
Unfortunately, Dale lost the services of Cian Hayes this week after he was recalled by his parent club, Fleetwood Town.
Hayes scored a stunning effort at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend and the winger, whose loan spell was due to expire after today’s game at Bromley, returned to the Sky Bet League One side ahead of their fixture at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday. He came on from the bench in the 67th minute, by which time the Cod Army were already 3-0 down.
In total, Hayes made nine appearances for Dale, scoring twice.
Whether or not Mcnulty is able to recall Kairo Mitchell to the starting XI depends on the outcome of a scan. Mitchell missed the victory at Victoria Road having picked up an injury in training days after notching his tenth goal of the season during the win at home to Altrincham.
“Kairo got injured in training and it’s such a shame because he’s in a great moment,” said Mcnulty after the win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
“It was a blow for the squad and a blow that I was worried about, in terms of morale.
“Off the back of two
wins and some positive momentum, Kairo gets an obscure injury in training, that we’re hoping is not too long but we won’t know until it gets scanned.
“I really thought it would lift Dagenham seeing that he wasn’t in the team, because he’s in a great spot.
“He was devastated not to play and he told me that he wanted to, but I made the decision to take him out because sometimes I need to protect them when they can’t protect themselves.
“Hendo [Ian Henderson] came in and he was perfect for us, but the team together, as a 16, they were perfect for us.”
Dale are back at home next Saturday when they play their first ever FA Trophy
game, welcoming Gateshead to the Crown Oil Arena.
Ticket prices have been reduced for the fixture, to £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (65+ and 21-and-under).
The Smith Metals Family Stand will be shut for the game. The David Kilpatrick Main Stand and Sandy Lane end will be open, with visiting supporters housed in the Willbutts Lane Stand. See club website for details.
Meanwhile, Dale’s youngsters beat Salford City 6-1 in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Tuesday.
Brooklyn Bailey bagged a hat-trick, whilst defender Isaac Burgess netted a brace, with the Youth Team’s latest
recruit, Leo Cooper, scoring the remaining goal.
Lee Thorpe’s side are in league action again this weekend as they will travel to Accrington Stanley this morning. Kick-off at Stanley Sports Hub is scheduled for 10.30am.
Dale Women are hosting Athletico Middleton Ladies at Rochdale St Clements tomorrow in the quarter-final of the League Premier Cup.
Lee Atkinson’s side are in cup competition once again this weekend as they face a tough test against Athletico Middleton Ladies.
“Sunday’s game, we know, will be very difficult,” said the Dale Women’s Manager.
“Middleton have been together for a long time
now, and have always been a strong outfit.
“They are a team who I think should be in a higher division, as they are more than capable.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and what we bring to the game.
“Last week, we were still low on numbers, but the players still performed and got the result.
“We want the same again this weekend. It’s another cup where we want to do well. It’s a game that we all want to win.
“We will work hard again in training this week, where we will focus on our strengths as well as what we can do to win the game.
“The players really have been fantastic so far. They
understand how we want to play, and they know what I expect from them.
“Ultimately, we all want the same things. We all want to improve, and we all want to win things.”
Kick-off at Rochdale St Clements [115 Crowneast St, Rochdale, OL11 5EX] tomorrow is at 2pm.