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Daggers going nowhere: Hill

19/ 7/2008

KEITH HILL has dismissed talk of Chris Dagnall following David Perkins through the Spotland exit door for a move to League One.

Striker Dagnall was said to be one of the names on Stockport County’s wanted list as Hatters boss Jim Gannon looks to replace Liam Dickinson.

Stockport have already landed Linfield forward Peter Thompson, but having cashed in on Dickinson – who joined Championship side Derby for around £750,000 – Gannon is rumoured to be in the market for another frontman.

Nevertheless, Hill scotched talk of Dagnall leaving Dale, stressing: "Jim Gannon has certainly not been in touch with me regarding Chris Dagnall, and in the past, whenever Jim has made an enquiry about a player, he has always gone about it the right way and shown me respect by contacting me first.

"Chris Dagnall is a hugely talented player and we’re fortunate in that he’s contracted to the club for the next two years. It would take a sizeable fee to prise Chris Dagnall away from Rochdale."

Fresh from a week’s warm-weather training in Marbella, Hill takes his squad to Rossendale this afternoon as the pre-season preparations pick up pace.

Dale enjoyed run-outs against Peterborough and Marbella out in Spain with the management team giving every fit player game time, a theme that is likely to continue at Dark Lane today.

"We’ll do what we’ve been doing of late, rotating the players," said Hill. "It will be a chance for the fans to see the new lads and it’s important for us to get a few games under our belt and build up fitness – that’s what we are aiming for."

One player unlikely to feature is midfielder Simon Heslop who, after spending the week in Spain with Hill’s squad, was in talks over a move to Port Vale as the Observer went to press.

Dale had expressed an interest in taking the player on loan for the last year of his contract at Barnsley, but with Port Vale lining up a cash bid, the Yorkshire outfit would favour a permanent move.

Nevertheless, Hill has other options to explore, including Chris Basham, who impressed during a spell at Spotland earlier this year.

"Chris Basham is not available right now, though he is a player still in our minds," said Hill. "It may be that he becomes available at a later date, but on the other hand he could have an impressive pre-season in which case Bolton will want to keep him there. That’s what happens with players of Chris Basham’s calibre."

Perhaps the most positive aspect of Dale’s trip to Spain was the way in which the squad’s youngsters performed alongside the senior players.

"Lads like Raph Evans, Kyle Lambert and Will Buckley really came to the fore," said Hill. "These are 18-year-olds and they did a lot of growing up last week.

"I feel we’re a lot stronger as a club and a squad this year than we were last summer and we have stronger youngsters coming through the ranks. When they are performing so well, I don’t want to stop their progress by putting too many obstacles in their way. I want to encourage them and get the best out of them."