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Wembley key to developing squad

Exclusive by Richard Partington
17/ 5/2008

KEITH HILL’s seven-year plan for Rochdale AFC will receive a huge boost should his side secure a place at Wembley in the League Two play-off final with victory over Darlington today.

Dale go into the semi-final second leg at Spotland (12noon kick off) trailing 2-1 after last Saturday’s clash at the Darlington Arena.

But with the tie finely poised and promotion still very much within their grasp, Hill knows the difference between strengthening his hand and running the risk of losing key players could rest on the outcome of today’s clash.

"When you build a squad and they do particularly well, some of the bigger fish in the pond want to take what you have nurtured, and that’s probably going to be the case all summer with our players." he said. "I’ve already heard talk of clubs anticipating making moves for one or two of our players, but that is credit to the players themselves and credit to the team and the club.

"But I would find it very hard to digest if we had to break this squad up – it would leave a really sour taste in the mouth. I don’t think that will happen, but maybe key to that is getting to Wembley."

Chairman Chris Dunphy insisted the squad would be strengthened this summer regardless of today’s game – but added a windfall from a Wembley appearance would obviously boost the kitty substantially: "If we got to Wembley that would be a good cash pot for us," said Mr Dunphy. "For me, that would be a great financial achievement – we could set things right for next season and give us a really good kick on."

Estimates suggest Dale could earn anything between £250,000 and £400,000 for reaching the final and Mr Dunphy said such an injection of cash would benefit the club as a whole, including Hill’s squad.

"If we could get to Wembley and get promoted it would really help us for next season and allow us to strengthen the squad. We are going to strengthen the squad anyway, but it would take a bit of the financial pressure we’ve experienced this season off us."

And the chairman’s gut feeling ahead of today’s game?

"We’re going to do it – we’re going to turn them around. We were slow out of the blocks last weekend and perhaps the incident on the bus with Lee Thorpe weighed on the players’ minds. But they are all ready and prepared for this one."