Ahead of the Stoke FA Cup game Dale manager Keith Hill says 'we're achieving real success'

Photo: Karl Whitehead

Keith Hill

On the eve of Rochdale's FA Cup fourth round tie v Stoke City at Spotland, Manager Keith Hill believes Dale deserve credit for what has been achieved both on and off the field.

With his side's exploits in the competition very much in the media spotlight, he said: “They players deserve to be in the limelight. What we have done over the last 18 months has been remarkable and the way that we deal with finances doesn’t get an awful lot of publicity.

“The respect that we have for football finances and the way we’ve managed our success is phenomenal. It shouldn’t be overlooked, but is.

“The success we’re achieving is real because we don’t owe anyone any money, which is special. We’re developing our own players and we got promoted last year having reduced the budget from the previous season, so it’s absolutely superb.

"Last season we got promoted a special way and this season we’re challenging in League One the same way, which is within our financial remit.

"We’re earning money out of the FA Cup and through the sale of players. We don’t borrow money – we earn money and we make money. We don’t just break even, we actually make money and sustain success.

"These are special times when you look at the team that we’ve got, the team that we’ve built and the longevity that’s in that team for the next two or three years, it could be really special times and that’s what we’re planning for.”