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Refwatch - Rochdale v Burnley U21 - National League Cup
at 22:01 14 Aug 2025

Firstly, we have won our first two games and I’m in optimistic mood. Just want to say that. It may change if results do, but, right now, things feel good.

Second, I’m surprised at the emphasis being placed on how the two new coaches were appointed, given that McNulty addressed this directly in his interview. He made it clear that he anticipated Gibbins’ departure and had a plan in place — that’s proactive, responsible management. Whether or not every detail was run past the board isn’t really the point. Managers are expected to lead, make key appointments, and shape the environment — it’s part of the job. Full public transparency on internal staffing processes isn’t standard practice, nor is it necessary in my view.

He explicitly said: “And, like others in other positions within my technical staff, I think about solutions and potential if these things should ever arise, and I knew what I wanted this summer.”
That’s not someone reacting on the fly. That’s a manager with a plan.

He also said: “What mattered to me was their understanding – of us, of Rochdale, of what it means to play for this club.”

“I felt it was the right time to bring that alternative perspective in.”

“I thought it was good for us, and I’m really pleased with them both.”

This is clearly his decision, his strategy, and his rationale. He repeatedly uses “I” and “me” — no sign of anyone being imposed on him, no evidence of panic appointments.

The quotes make it clear: these were his decisions, aligned with his thinking, for the benefit of the club.

On the Cardiff comment, McNulty referring to them as a "Premier League club in stature" may have been enthusiastic language, but it’s pretty clear what he meant. He was talking about the scale and quality of their infrastructure.

Cardiff’s facilities and resources are well above the level they’re currently playing at. From a professional point of view, it’s understandable why someone would make that move, and McNulty was simply acknowledging that. It wasn’t a case of confusing their league status — it was a comment on the scale of the club off the pitch.

Roll on Saturday.
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🎥 Live Screening: Boreham Wood v Rochdale AFC
at 22:58 11 Aug 2025

What was that one about Bury? Carry On Regardless …
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Election of new Trust main board director
at 19:45 5 Aug 2025

Does anyone know if the minutes for this meeting have been published yet? I couldn’t make it and was looking for a breakdown.
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Where’s the bloke?
at 09:35 23 Jul 2025

I watched the game and really enjoyed it. If we’re drawing comparisons to Dale, it was actually England that reminded me most of our play last season - lots of recycling possession, shifting the ball wide around the edge of the opposition box, then switching flanks in search of an opening, only to be met by a well-drilled defence. But, just like us at times last season, their persistence eventually paid off. I’m hoping with the new signings, it’ll pay off more often this season.
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No pre- match hospitality this season.
at 13:10 22 Jul 2025

Cheers. I was familiar with the plans to refurb or even move away from Spotland, but I must have missed the announcement regarding the discontinuation of hospitality.

As I say, I feel it's a bit of an own goal, but the club will know best if it will ultimately be worth doing from a financial standpoint.
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No pre- match hospitality this season.
at 21:19 21 Jul 2025

Your last line is precisely why I do it too. The fact that they’d really nailed the offering last season was a huge bonus. Two family members attended for the first time and were impressed with a desire to return for the same experience this season. I know there was an abundance of similar feedback from others who’d taken a package.

Personally, I think it’s a poor decision to cease it this season (that’s yet to be communicated) and I can’t imagine there are many clubs our size that don’t offer pre-match hospitality.

As to the new solution, that room is going to feel extremely cosy with anything approaching 200 people in too, which will not make for a great experience.

I’d be keen to hear the reasoning when the club decides to formally announce the decision.
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No pre- match hospitality this season.
at 20:22 21 Jul 2025

Where has this been announced? The pre-match hospitality was excellent last season, so it would seem a bit of an own goal not to offer it this season.
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Pre season FCUM
at 16:54 12 Jul 2025

Both Gilmour and Rodney were on the teamsheet today but Mancini wasn’t. Given he’s only just joined, I’m guessing he isn’t leaving.

Probably worth not reading too much into things beyond fitness/injury niggle concerns.
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Pre season FCUM
at 16:48 12 Jul 2025

Where has it been said that anyone is leaving?
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Keeper Signs
at 11:38 12 Jul 2025

Yes
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Boreham Wood (away)
at 11:38 10 Jul 2025

I seem to remember something along the lines of a prize fund being £1,000,000. Now whether that was split equally between the 16 competing National League clubs (so £62,500 each), or if it was split based on progression in the competition etc, I’m not sure.
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Signing #6 inbound...
at 00:36 6 Jul 2025

Dee-ess-er-roo-way
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Signing #6 inbound...
at 10:36 5 Jul 2025

First question asked and answered when he joined Halifax:

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Nick Haughton.
at 09:00 13 Jun 2025

We're not signing him.
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Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 09:57 31 May 2025

Exactly. And they released Kyron Gordon too, who is now one of our best players.
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CRICKET
at 12:34 25 May 2025

It’s been an absolute chore watching Lancs last season and this. Capitulation after capitulation with an insipid bowling attack. We are in real danger of finishing rock-bottom of division two at this rate.

It’s not all on Beneknstein, but you have to think a fresh approach from the coaching side of things has to be at least the first place to start.
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Should he stay or should he go?
at 08:33 19 May 2025

I think the point being made is that it took Barnet four years to finally win the title after Brennan got the job. That’s not a sign of a stroll, it’s a sign of persistence, planning and investment paying off over time.

I interviewed Dean Brennan for my book, and he was open about the financial support at Barnet. Their budget - despite a small fan base - has been competitive because the chairman has been putting in his “family inheritance” season after season. That’s on the record, in the book. So yes, I’d say Barnet, for the past two seasons, have punched above us financially in terms of playing budget. Whether that continues to be the case with continued Ogden investment here remains unknown but, with decent backing, it still took Brennan four years to achieve his aim. I think that’s the point being made.

People might praise Brennan’s management style over McNulty’s, but people lead in different ways, and effectiveness doesn’t always look the same. Maybe McNulty does need a more visible ruthless streak - BBM probably did too - but there’s definitely more to McNulty than the calm, placid public-facing exterior. On a stadium tour, for example, he told two young fans that he’d had to have some harsh words with a player who wasn’t starting. He said it straight: in football, sometimes you have to be the “bad guy.” That side of him clearly exists. I don’t think there’s any doubt around the halls of the COA that he’s the man in charge.

That said, McNulty does need to consider how he comes across in interviews. The language matters, even if too much is made of it sometimes. Supporters want to feel ambition reflected back at them, and tone can influence that. Referencing clout is fine if it’s consistent. We have a lot more clout than a good number of teams we’ve come a cropper against at this level, so the door needs to swing both ways.

For me now, that’s the test for next season. We don’t have masses of players out of contract, so we need to build on that this summer, with appropriate financial backing, filling key positions with experience as well as ability. I think we all know the areas - a spine effectively - a no.1, a midfield destroyer and at least one centre forward of the type Jay Bird proved to be. Then, McNulty needs to find a consistent way to see off both the big hitters and the low-block brigade. Only teams that manage to do this can hope to get out of this league.

I think it’s only fair for supporters to dictate that anything less than what was achieved this season the next would be deemed regression and not acceptable.

However, on that note, it’s worth remembering the Ogdens have set long-term objectives for the head coach. We only really know what the year three goal is. The rest? We’re guessing. It might help if more of those benchmarks were made public, so supporters can gauge whether the club’s vision aligns with their own season-by-season hopes.
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Should he stay or should he go?
at 09:29 17 May 2025

I was reading through this thread with a view of adding my own thoughts, but you’ve basically said everything I wanted to say there. Pretty much point for point where I currently stand.
[Post edited 17 May 9:30]
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Steven Phillipps
at 18:37 9 May 2025

Thanks very much, I’m really glad you enjoyed the last book and I appreciate the kind words. I’m not planning to write another one for a while though. The time it takes, alongside other work and home life, is just a bit too full-on at the moment. I’m planning to watch Dale solely for enjoyment for a while, if that’s ever really possible.

I did cover the Ogden takeover at the end of the last book. It turned out to be a happy ending, which didn’t seem likely at all while I was writing it with the season still unfolding.

I had been commissioned to write a feature if we’d won the FA Trophy, but obviously that didn’t happen. I’ve been asked to do something similar if we win the play-offs, so we’ll see how that goes 😃
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Steven Phillipps
at 18:16 9 May 2025

Your first factual inaccuracy in as long as I can remember 😃
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