Storms, statement wins and a side coming of age

 

Spotland: Wetter than a haddock's bathing costume.

Two games to end September, two very different challenges, and Rochdale rose to both. First came the sparkle of a four-goal dismantling of Solihull, then the authority of a clinical win away at promotion rivals Carlisle. McNulty’s side look every inch contenders, blending movement, control and belief into performances that carry real weight. Long may the form continue – and long may the pitch beneath them hold firm.

Torrential rain may have been the deciding factor as to why the Southend game cannot be added to the above list but, for Rochdale AFC, the issue runs deeper than a saturated surface. The call-off was a reminder − not just of the elements, but of a longer-standing problem at Spotland.

Postponements like this, in any greater frequency, risk disrupting first-team rhythm and results, and threaten to create the kind of spring fixture congestion we saw last season, when a string of winter postponements left Rochdale cramming crucial games into the very period where clear heads and steady form are most valuable.

Supporter reaction has, understandably, been mixed. Some rightly point to the context: the Ogden family have already injected millions into the club, with more to come. For a team at this level, finding an estimated £1.5 million to fully resolve the pitch issue isn’t a simple decision − especially when millions have already been committed and stadium plans were still in flux earlier this summer.

And those arguments carry weight. This isn’t an easy fix. The pitch covers brought in instead can only go so far − especially with a high-water table and the kind of deluge seen before the Southend game. This is the North West though − downpours aren’t exactly a shock, even if this particular torrent was abnormal for September.

Behind the scenes, the effort to get the game on was committed, if ultimately futile. By 3pm, more than 20mm of rain had fallen in a torrential burst that overwhelmed already saturated covers. Volunteers worked tirelessly with moppers but, as puddles reformed behind them, it became clear that only industrial equipment − a ride-on vacuum system, for example − could have made any real difference. Those who showed up gave everything. But, without such tools, even a bigger group may not have changed the outcome.

As one voice put it: “Who says we didn’t do all we could?” That frustration is fair. No one doubts the effort behind the scenes.

But effort alone won’t stop this from becoming a real problem. When a squad has been competitively assembled to challenge, the last thing anyone wants is to see that momentum threatened by a playing surface that simply can’t cope. It begins as an annoyance. It ends up feeling like an unnecessary handicap.

This isn’t a new issue. Certain areas of the Spotland pitch have long struggled with even modest rainfall − let alone the kind of monsoon that rolled in the previous weekend. To be fair, the board themselves were upfront in the summer: without a full rebuild, there was always going to be a risk of difficulties once the rain returned.

The drainage issues long predate the Ogdens’ tenure, of course, and earlier remedial work has never offered a lasting solution. Until now, a dry start to the season has papered over the cracks. But when the referee drops a ball in the centre circle of a pitch that has been covered, and watches it stick, then aquaplane and stop dead, the decision becomes inevitable. The area in front of the Sandy Lane End was even worse.

Quite how so much water managed to find its way beneath the covers is a question left hanging in the air for now.

You can't help but worry that, once again, we may be gambling with form. There’s also a psychological side that shouldn’t be underestimated. Games in hand may look like an advantage on paper, but players rarely see it that way − a table that shows Rochdale sitting lower than their performances deserve can nag at confidence until those points are physically earned.

And it’s not just players affected. Southend fans made the trip this time − only to head home early. Last season, Boston supporters were twice turned around mid-journey. These aren’t isolated events. They chip away at the club’s reputation. And, like it or not, that’s how ‘tinpot’ labels start to stick − even if they’re unfair.

To be clear, this isn’t about undermining the owners. Their financial support has been transformational − and, frankly, lifesaving. But delaying the pitch work could still come at a cost, especially if this winter proves as wet as most. Fixture congestion, momentum lost − none of it helps. Of course, we might get lucky: the covers and the regime for implementing them could hold, and Dale may lose no more games to the weather than any other club in the depths of winter. At this stage, though, it’s impossible to say.

This isn’t scapegoating. It’s about being realistic. A side with real promise shouldn’t be tripped up by the turf beneath their boots. If the work is coming in 2026, good − but let’s hope the wait doesn’t end up being the difference between a successful season and a missed opportunity.

For fans starved of their football fix, it was meant to be the main course. Two top sides, live on TV, a proper Saturday night under the lights − the kind of fixture you mark in the calendar with a thick red circle.

Instead, nothing. No football, no drama, just the hollow thud of frustration and a reminder that even in the slick world of modern football, some things remain stubbornly unpredictable.

But amid the grumbling − and there was plenty − it’s worth pausing to remember where we were just 18 months ago. No lights, no cameras, no certainties. Teetering on the brink, unsure whether there’d even be a club to support the next week, never mind prime-time showdowns to complain about.

None of this eases the disappointment for those who made plans, booked travel, or simply wanted to see two proper sides go at it. But perspective doesn’t dampen frustration − it reminds us why it matters.

Levi Amantchi filled the No.9 boots against Solihull.

Mercifully, a referee’s inspection two days later confirmed the Spotland turf fit for Tuesday’s clash with Solihull Moors, ensuring Dale’s inaction stretched to only one game – and there was no sign of the disruption curtailing form as the visitors were dispatched four goals to one in yet another dominant and convincing performance from McNulty’s players.

Despite hot-shot No.9 Emmanuel Dieseruvwe serving a one-match suspension, three goals inside the opening 20 minutes effectively settled the evening. The head coach’s decision to push Ryan East further forward, leaving Harvey Gilmour to anchor midfield alone at times, gave Dale an extra runner that Solihull simply couldn’t pick up. The switch in shape caught the visitors cold, and in East Dale found the unexpected spearhead of that first-half storm. Twice he arrived late in the box, timing his runs with the precision of a seasoned finisher akin to Bryan Robson, and twice he converted − his first goals of the season, both the product of fluid, purposeful moves. Devante Rodney added the third, and by then the visitors were scrambling for answers, reshuffling conspicuously just to stem the tide.

Even after the interval, with the game already won, the patterns of play remained. Dale’s commitment to circulation − recycling possession patiently when no forward ball is on − was evident, but so too was the movement that makes those passes count when confidence is high. The fourth goal was a perfect example: sharp interplay carved open space down the left, Sam Beckwith arriving to sweep home his first of the campaign with his weaker foot. Solihull pulled one back as their improvement finally told, but it barely registered. The damage had long been done.

What lingered was less the scoreline than the manner of it. The football was slick, incisive, a step beyond some of the more efficient wins that had preceded it. The first half in particular will live longer in the memory − a reminder that, on nights like these, this Dale side can dazzle as well as dominate.

Yet the sternest examination of the season so far was still to come. With Southend washed away by postponement, Rochdale’s first true meeting with a fellow National League heavyweight instead arrived at Brunton Park against Carlisle. A strong travelling contingent of Daleys braved the elements, huddled together on the blustery, exposed Petteril terrace, ready to see just how far this side had really come. Dale entered the clash sitting second in the table with Carlisle just behind in third, the Cumbrians still smarting from a midweek mauling by promotion rivals York City − a bruising setback that left them dangerous, wounded and desperate to respond.

The question, asked all season, was whether Dale could ‘do it’ on a Saturday afternoon at the likes of Carlisle. The answer came swiftly and emphatically: yes. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe struck twice in a 2–0 win that made it six National League victories on the spin, a performance as authoritative as it was impressive.

The tone was set inside six minutes. Sam Beckwith’s overlapping run on the left pulled Carlisle’s back line apart, the ball cut back into the path of Dieseruvwe, who bullied it over the line under pressure from Carlisle keeper Breeze. From that moment, Dale played with the conviction of a side that believed they belonged at this level’s summit. Carlisle tried to match up but were repeatedly undone by the movement of Devante Rodney, Connor McBride and Ryan East buzzing around a spearheading Dieseruvwe. Harvey Gilmour, again imperious at the base, dictated tempo, while both wide centre-backs pressed high to support the wing-backs and suffocate the home side’s attempts to build.

Mani D just cannot stop scoring.

If anything, the only frustration was that the scoreline remained slender for so long. Rochdale carved out chance after chance in a sparkling first half that might have yielded four or five with sharper finishing. When the second finally arrived on 56 minutes, it was worth the wait: Dieseruvwe received the ball from Rodney as he ran into space, driving it low into the bottom corner with a finish of pure authority and the composure of a man who now expects to score with every shot taken. It was the strike that broke Carlisle’s resistance, and it wrapped the game as a contest.

What followed was maturity. Rather than overextend, Dale managed the game with a calm assurance that belied the conditions. They dropped off when required, absorbed pressure without panic and used their substitutions to add solidity and fresh legs. It was intelligent, confident football: an away performance that combined incision with control.

By the time the final whistle sounded, it was hard to avoid the sense that this was a statement win. To leave Brunton Park with three points, and to do so feeling faintly disappointed it wasn’t by a wider margin, says much about the standards McNulty’s men are setting. Carlisle and their illustrious manager had been tactically out-thought and thoroughly outplayed. For Rochdale, it was not just another victory − it was evidence, against a direct rival, that this side are the real deal.

Dale fans (even this one) left Brunton Park delighted.

As always thanks to The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of photos.

Resilient Rochdale march on, but talisman’s suspension will test their depth

 

Devante Rodney in action against Braintree.

Rochdale head into mid-September perched proudly at the top of the National League table, their only blemish the ill-fated rotation gamble at Brackley.

Nine wins from ten in all competitions have blended fluency with resilience, delivering both entertainment and efficiency. What has emerged is a side not simply riding momentum but forging an identity: disciplined at the back, flexible in approach and propelled by the relentless goals of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. For all the usual cautions about early-season form, Dale could hardly have hoped for a firmer platform.

They began the month in style. Naming an unchanged side for the visit of Braintree, Rochdale played with purpose from the outset. Most of the early threat came down the right, where Aidy Barlow orchestrated attacks and twice supplied Dieseruvwe with headed chances that were directed too close to the goalkeeper.

It took a rare foray down the opposite flank to unlock the visitors. Tarryn Allarakhia swung in a superb cross that the prolific No.9 guided home with trademark precision. His second arrived soon after, a neat exchange with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling ending with another composed finish. At that stage Braintree were reeling, and Dale might reasonably have felt aggrieved not to be four or five ahead by the interval.

The visitors, to their credit, rallied after the break. A couple of substitutions and a greater willingness to contest the game higher up the pitch gave them a foothold in midfield that they retained for much of the half. Rochdale, though, defended with authority, Ethan Ebanks-Landell again outstanding, with the side still carrying a late threat through substitute Connor McBride.

The final whistle confirmed the 2-0 victory and another three points, the type of fixture Dale simply must take care of if they are to sustain their ambitions. It was also one that provided ample entertainment for the Spotland crowd. Jim McNulty’s side were, at this stage, delivering everything asked of them.

Momentum only grew in the days that followed, as Rochdale’s record-breaking start to the season drew wider recognition. Under McNulty’s guidance they had played seven games, winning six, collecting 18 points and scoring 15 goals. At the heart of it all was Dieseruvwe, whose seven goals in seven matches gave the side a cutting edge so often absent in recent seasons.

The numbers spoke for themselves. Five consecutive home wins in all competitions from the start of a season − the first time since 1985/86, and only the fourth occasion in the club’s history. Four straight league victories at Spotland to open a campaign − again the first since that same season, and just the seventh overall. Most striking of all, 18 points from the opening seven league fixtures: a new Rochdale record, eclipsing the 17-point returns of 1991/92 and 2001/02.

The accolades duly followed. McNulty was named National League Manager of the Month for August, while Dieseruvwe’s irrepressible form earned him Player of the Month. It was a month of milestones that underlined just how far, and how quickly, the mood around the club had shifted from the despondency of last season’s play-off defeat.

The challenge then was to carry that form on the road, beginning with a daunting 345-mile journey to face Truro City. The Cornish side, new to the division and second bottom at the time, looked on paper the ideal opponents. The question was whether Dale could turn expectation into execution.

As it transpired, they could. The trip yielded another three points, though not without its tests. In the first half Rochdale repeatedly found pockets of space in the final third, areas from which they might have punished Truro more ruthlessly. Barlow’s positional freedom again caught the eye, his ability to drift creating new avenues of attack. It was, however, a slightly scruffy goal that gave Dale the lead. In the 12th minute, Ryan East’s corner caused chaos, Kyron Gordon hauled down as goalkeeper George Stone was caught in the melee. Even grounded, Gordon stayed alive to the moment, rising just enough to nod the loose ball over the line from close range. Had Dieseruvwe then converted what, by his standards, was a simple chance, the contest might have been put to bed as swiftly as Braintree a week earlier.

Instead, the second half brought complications. A blend of blustery conditions and sloppy passing left Rochdale struggling to retain possession. In isolation it was probably their poorest 45 minutes of the season on the ball, the basics of control and distribution too often going awry. Some of that could be put down to the wind and Truro's changes, yet the decision to go long from goal kicks also reflected a growing adaptability in McNulty’s side − a willingness to adjust when conditions demanded it.

What did not falter was the defensive structure. Organised, resolute and calm under pressure, Dale limited Truro to half-chances, leaving goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff to do little more than marshal his area with authority. There was no panic, no sense of fragility – just a collective assurance that has become increasingly tangible. Against stronger sides that resolve will be tested more severely, but embedding such an attitude early feels an important step in Rochdale’s development.

Harvey Gilmour drives through the Truro midfield.

The only blemish on the trip came when Dieseruvwe collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign. The caution brings a one-match suspension under league rules and will deprive Rochdale of their in-form striker for their next vital league outing. Given the rhythm he has found in front of goal, his absence will be felt, though it will also offer an early glimpse of how McNulty’s side can adapt without their focal point.

Dieseruvwe will not be the only enforced absentee. Injuries have begun to bite, particularly at left wing-back, where summer signing David Tutonda faces four to six weeks out after a training setback. Joe Pritchard, so impressive before his knock against Sutton, also remains sidelined. The club has chosen a conservative, non-surgical path in his recovery, though a further assessment in six weeks will decide whether an operation − and a much longer absence − becomes unavoidable. To plug the gap, McNulty has turned to the loan market, bringing in Kevin Berkoe from Salford City. His arrival provides short-term cover, but the situation serves as a reminder of how quickly even an increased squad depth can be stretched across a long campaign.

The National League Cup brought another opportunity to rotate, and Rochdale duly made it two wins from two in the competition with a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers' Under-21s. A much-changed XI again took the field, but the evening carried a welcome twist in the return of Matty Done. Now part of McNulty’s coaching staff, the 37-year-old was pressed back into action for what became his fourth playing spell at the club.

Dale began brightly, Connor McBride continuing his impressive run of form by finishing off a well-constructed move. His sharpness and composure in front of goal with each chance he is given seems to enhance his case for greater involvement in the league side − a dilemma McNulty may soon be glad to have.

While the forwards seemed to be having joy, the defensive reshuffles left gaps, and Blackburn twice took advantage of some passive defending to turn the game around and lead at the break. The response came after the interval. Anthony Gomez-Mancini, lively once again, levelled with his first goal for the club after neat interplay down the left. His replacement after injury, Jake Burger, proved just as effective, bustling into space to apply the finish that secured the win.

Two sterner league examinations now await to close out September, with Southend and Carlisle lying in wait, Solihull Moors sandwiched between. Together they promise the clearest gauge yet of how far Rochdale have travelled since last season, when too often the bigger occasions brought flatter performances. That judgment is not without nuance − Dale did take 16 points from fellow play-off contenders Altrincham, Halifax and Gateshead − but it was the 4-0 home reverses to Barnet and York that linger most painfully, suggesting a side too respectful of opponents they ought to have treated as equals. The hope now is for a more assertive account, one that reflects the confidence this start has instilled.

David Tutonda is out for up to six weeks.

As always, many thanks to The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC for use of images.

Highs, one low and the league summit: Dale’s promising start

 

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe found the net again against Gateshead.

Football’s capacity for mood swings has rarely been more vividly demonstrated than it was in the space of four days this month. On a Wednesday night, Rochdale dismantled Gateshead with a performance brimming with authority, fluency and belief − the kind of display that suggested a team not just finding its feet but striding into the new season with purpose. By the Saturday evening, at Brackley, the mood could scarcely have been more different. A radical reshaping of the side, justified in the name of fixture congestion, left Dale disjointed and beaten, supporters bewildered by the speed with which momentum had been surrendered.

The difference between the two games was stark. Against Gateshead, the team looked comfortable in a system starting to click into place; against Brackley, that rhythm was missing, as if the pieces of the puzzle had been scattered again. Taken together, the fixtures gave a glimpse of life under Jim McNulty − the potential highs this side can reach, and the pitfalls that could just as easily pull them back down.

If the earlier wins in August had hinted at progress, the home fixture against Gateshead underlined it. Rochdale produced their most complete performance of the season so far − a display built on authority in midfield and a ruthlessness in the final third.

The most gratifying aspect was the control exerted by the central pairing of Harvey Gilmour and Ryan East. Where in the previous two league fixtures, the midfield had too often looked short on contrast, here it clicked: fluid, balanced and authoritative from the first whistle. From the outset, the tempo was set in the middle of the park, even in those moments when passes were funnelled into them from defence − situations that last season would have frayed nerves in the stands. This time, it was composure, not panic, that defined the response.

McNulty’s 3-4-2-1 was beginning to reap rewards from the upgraded quality within the squad. Familiar patterns were executed with a sharpness and precision that made them more effective. The patient build-up play − sideways, backwards, probing − was still there, but now carried intent. It was notable that almost every goal kick in the second half was played short, a signal of confidence in both structure and personnel. Players being able to switch positions added to those options: the wing backs swapped sides after half time, as did Devante Rodney and Aidan Barlow, a flexibility that kept Gateshead unsettled and under pressure.

That confidence paid dividends. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, making it three goals in three games, continued to give Rochdale the kind of focal point they had lacked last season, while Rodney’s commanding shift in the No.10 role brought its reward with a goal of his own. Captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell underlined once more the threat Rochdale carried from set pieces with a bullet header, and the return of Connor McBride added an extra layer of satisfaction − his thunderous strike a reminder that depth was not just a matter of numbers but of genuine quality waiting in the wings. Oliver Whatmuff, too, was excellent in goal: alert, always available and a constant presence, even though this was a game where his opposite number rightly received all the plaudits for keeping Dale to just four.

And those four goals, spread across the side, told their own story: this was not just a win, but a performance that hinted at the collective growth of a squad starting to believe in both its system and itself.

Therefore, McNulty’s decision to then field an entirely different XI at Brackley Town was as startling as it was divisive. From the high of Gateshead, where every facet of Rochdale’s game had looked finely tuned, came a side that bore almost no resemblance to it. The manager defended the choice by pointing to the punishing schedule − Gateshead on Wednesday, Brackley on Saturday, Sutton to follow on Monday − yet the logic of rotation could not mask the shock of such sweeping change. The gamble ended in a 2-1 defeat, but the repercussions may stretch far beyond a single scoreline.

No one would have begrudged McNulty five or six alterations, perhaps even more, had the spine remained intact − the reassurance of a Kyron Gordon, a Gilmour or a Dieseruvwe anchoring the unfamiliar. Instead, the wholesale reshuffle stripped the team of its core. What followed was not calamity, but a side shorn of rhythm and chemistry, players looking sideways in search of an anchor who was not there. Dan Moss and Casey Pettit, handed rare opportunities, might now wonder whether their auditions have been complicated rather than advanced; even Ian Henderson, a talisman in so many guises, was left to question where his contribution fits next.

Anthony Gomez-Mancini injected some life against Brackley.

Rochdale were not humiliated. They saw plenty of the ball, kept possession tidily, but to little consequence. Their play had the feel of a team still learning each other’s accents, fluent only in hesitation. Only Anthony Gomez-Mancini, introduced from the bench, injected any real sense of clarity, a footballer determined to seize his moment while others seemed caught in the fog of uncertainty.

The deeper issue is one McNulty cannot ignore. Supporters will forgive defeats; what unsettles them is the sense of needless risk, of momentum squandered at the very point it was gathering force. The victory over Gateshead had sent optimism surging through the stands, the first genuine swell of unified belief in years. To so quickly puncture that with an experiment of this scale leaves the manager with trust to rebuild. The remedy may be as simple as acknowledgement: to admit that the calculation was wrong, that the intention was sound, but the execution flawed.

That it even required saying, so soon after such a comprehensive and uplifting win, is the measure of the situation. Success for Rochdale will rest not only on tactics or talent, but on preserving the fragile bond of unity and belief. Recognising when not to endanger that may prove the most important decision McNulty makes all season.

So, if the trip to Brackley had thrown McNulty’s judgement into the spotlight, the visit of Sutton on the Bank Holiday Monday felt like a test of how quickly both manager and team could restore calm. The response was measured rather than emphatic, but no less important for that. Rochdale reverted to the side that had swept past Gateshead, and while this 1-0 victory lacked the same sparkle, it carried the weight of reassurance.

It might have been far more comfortable had chances in the first half been converted. Joe Pritchard and Rodney were the most culpable, each passing up opportunities that would have put the contest beyond doubt before it had chance to tighten. Still, Pritchard impressed with his sharpness, though the knock he picked up after the break − his second in five days − was a cause for unease.

The rhythm of substitutions hinted at a plan to continue managing minutes in the wake of the Brackley experiment, though I personally felt changes could have been made earlier. In the end, Dale were indebted once again to the defence and, especially, Whatmuff, who brought authority and calm to the closing stages, ensuring that Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s predatory strike, the product of a neat spell of possession, proved enough.

It was not an afternoon for fireworks, but it was an afternoon for stability − a reminder that control, concentration and a reliable spine can carry this team a long way.

Sam Beckwith helped protect Dale's lead against Sutton.

The month closed with a trip to Wealdstone, a ground that has offered Rochdale little cheer in either of their previous National League campaigns. This time, though, they arrived in Ruislip in far brighter circumstances: buoyed by a sense that early-season optimism was beginning to harden into something more substantial. Their hosts, by contrast, had seen form stutter after a lively start.

And so it transpired that Rochdale broke that hoodoo with a convincing 3-1 victory. Once again, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe was on the scoresheet, his run of form continuing to provide Dale with a reliable focal. Just as encouraging was the spread of goals across the front three (Barlow and Rodney grabbing the other two), a reminder that this side possesses enough attacking variety to match most in the division.

There was a spell when Wealdstone rallied, threatening to turn the contest into something more uncomfortable, but Rochdale’s defence stood firm and handled the revival with composure. Perhaps fresher legs earlier from the bench might have eased the strain, yet it would be harsh to dwell on that after such a strong away win.

It was, in all, a result that carried extra weight: a difficult venue conquered at last, momentum regained and further proof that McNulty’s side can combine resilience with goalscoring edge.

Taken as a whole, August provided a solid launch to the 2025/26 campaign with Rochdale finishing the month top of the pile. Yet the truer measure of progress will arrive in the coming weeks. It is against clubs of similar resource and ambition − Carlisle United, York City, Southend United, Forest Green Rovers, Hartlepool United − that Rochdale’s trajectory will become clearer. Two of those challenges await in September.

Photos courtesy of The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC

Rochdale’s early stride under McNulty blends grit, promise and fine margins

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe grabbed a brace at Boreham Wood.

Three straight wins have offered encouragement at Spotland, with fringe players seizing their chance and Jim McNulty’s favoured 3-4-2-1 beginning to show both its rewards and its risks.

Through the first week of the campaign, Rochdale’s early form has been steady, if not always sparkling, and instructive in how Jim McNulty’s methods are bedding in. Three wins in succession – at Boreham Wood (2-0), at home to Burnley’s under-21s in the National League Cup (2-1), and then against Altrincham (2-1) – have not only provided momentum but also framed the story of a team learning to impose itself in McNulty’s favoured 3-4-2-1.

At Boreham Wood, the first half was laboured: too many balls went long, bypassing the width and technical quality offered by Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and Joe Pritchard. The home side sensed their chance down the channels, stretching Dale’s back three, but rarely troubled debutant keeper Oliver Whatmuff. The improvement after the break was tangible. Possession was used with greater variety, attacking play became more purposeful, and the introduction of substitutes, most notably Tarryn Allarakhia, injected an energy that tipped the contest. With Emmanuel Dieseruvwe leading the line and showing he is an instinctive finisher, there was a focal point to build around – a theme that caused consternation last season.

That next outing, against Burnley U21, underlined the secondary benefits of this National League Cup competition. Scheduled on a free-admission weekday afternoon, it doubled as a community exercise, offering children and families a taste of Spotland on their summer break. On the pitch, the first half meandered in stifling heat, punctuated only by the odd scare from Rochdale’s attempts to play out from the back. Yet the second half brought greater clarity: Ian Henderson poaching typically, Levi Amantchi powering home a superb David Tutonda delivery, and a defence that, while guilty of lapses, did enough to see out a 2-1 win. Depth, rotation, minutes in legs – all achieved without disrupting rhythm.

Levi Amantchi led the line and found the net against Burnley U21.

Altrincham’s visit was sterner, offering a clearer picture of both strengths and vulnerabilities in McNulty’s scheme. The visitors identified Rochdale’s left flank as fertile ground, and duly scored from there. For long spells, midfield once again looked too homogenous, too short on contrast, though as the match progressed Harvey Gilmour and Ryan East found a foothold. The emphasis on forcing corners was telling: this is a team acutely aware of its set-piece threat. More encouraging still was the impact of the substitutes, with Tutonda impressing again and Pritchard hinting he may emerge as Rochdale’s new Jimmy Keohane – versatile, committed, effective wherever deployed. A later Altrincham surge was repelled by grit, positioning and Whatmuff’s safe hands.

On the limited evidence so far, what has shone through is the desire of players who had slipped towards the fringes to seize their chance when handed it. Each has displayed a grit and determination that speaks to the collective buy-in McNulty has demanded, ensuring competition for places feels fierce and genuine.

Threaded through these performances is the 3-4-2-1 that McNulty insists upon. The shape isn’t mere pragmatism; it reflects an ambition to dominate, to compress and then break through the lines with two No. 10s drifting in search of spaces. It has produced moments of slick incision, especially when the wingbacks recover and drive into open grass. But it is also a structure of fine margins. As Altrincham showed, a single positional error or wingback caught high can expose the back three. And, as at Boreham Wood in the first half, there are times when the lone striker risks isolation if his support is suffocated.

The midfield puzzle remains the most pressing issue. Depth there has yet to translate into true balance – too often the duo clogs rather than complements, especially when pressed or forced wide. Smart opponents will continue to probe those fault lines. But when it clicks, as it did in the second half at Boreham Wood and in the key spells against Altrincham, the benefits are clear: fluidity, unpredictability and a spine that is difficult to dislodge.

McNulty himself frames it plainly. “People would think that I’m obsessed with controlling a game and they’d be right,” he admitted in pre-season. "I want to take control of a game and dominate − that’s ultimately what I want.” The first week of this season suggests Rochdale are still learning the nuances of how to deliver that dominance for 90 minutes rather than in bursts. The promise is evident, though, and with three wins already banked, the foundations for something more sustained feel sturdier than they have in years.

Tarryn Allarakhia gave the Altrincham defence a torrid time.

Photos courtesy of The Voice of Spotland/Daniel Youngs/Rochdale AFC

Rochdale Rising: Inside McNulty’s push for sustainable success

As Rochdale gear up for the 2025/26 National League season, head coach Jim McNulty has been quietly but deliberately reshaping the club − not just the squad, but the whole approach to recruitment, performance and success. After a first season of transition following relegation from the EFL, and then one of last-ditch heartbreak, McNulty is setting firmer standards and sharper expectations, with one clear aim: a team capable of promotion.

During an in-depth conversation in the course of pre-season preparations, McNulty made it clear that he’s moving away from the kind of small, overstretched squads that defined previous campaigns towards something with more durability. “Having a small group of versatile players is great in theory,” he says, “but if you’re constantly asking players to operate outside their natural roles, performance levels inevitably dip, and fatigue sets in.” Instead, he’s building depth in every area − players ready to push the starting XI and, crucially, step in without a drop in standard or cohesion.

Ten signings have already arrived this summer and, significantly, the vast majority are permanent, proven additions − a clear break from previous seasons where more inexperienced loans often papered over cracks. With proven players in key positions and a deliberate shift toward building long-term cohesion, McNulty’s rebuild has moved beyond firefighting. It’s now a project with shape, identity and staying power.

It is a shift rooted in realism and ambition for a coach still honing the art in his first management job. While on holiday at the end of last season’s campaign, McNulty spoke with another manager who shared a simple principle: each summer, aim to sign at least three players who can improve three positions in your best XI. Not just bolster the squad but raise the bar. “It stuck with me,” McNulty admits. “That kind of thinking forces you to be honest about your team. It challenges everyone − those who come in, and those who are already here. It really solidified my belief in the strategy I had set out for this summer.”

The foundation for this summer’s approach came from extensive soul-searching. “It started with outlining the strategy, which came from deep reflection − not just on the final moments of last season, but all the moments throughout the whole campaign, and even the one before that,” McNulty explains. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to grow a team − not just to the end stages, but getting it beyond the middle stages, into a real position of strength.”

That reflection crystallised his vision for evolution. “It was always clear in my mind how I wanted to evolve the team − how the threat level and the resilience of the team could and needed to grow. And I knew that would take time.” The underlying numbers, he notes, suggested Rochdale had “one of the strongest campaigns in the National League” last season, but he recognises the need for qualitative improvement alongside quantitative depth.

“We’ll benefit from a rise in quality, not just quantity,” he says. “And from more variance − in how we threaten teams, and in how resilient we are.” The recruitment strategy that followed was deliberately targeted: “We’ve tried to be forensic. We’ve gone after very specific profiles − guys we’d identified as players who could really help this team.”

Although prolific, recruitment this summer has come with its share of challenges. As McNulty sets his sights on higher-calibre players, competition naturally intensifies. While the club narrowly missed out on targets such as Jay Bird − a forward whose short loan spell last season earned near-talismanic status − others, such as Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, have been successfully brought in, the forward having attracted widespread interest by scoring goals in a lukewarm Hartlepool side.

“Yes, our targets have had clubs from higher up the leagues after them,” McNulty acknowledges. “It makes sense. They are good players and good players always have options. But what we offer is clarity. They know how we play, where they fit, and that they’re coming here to make an impact − not to make up the numbers somewhere else.”

It’s not just the recruitment that has been bold. McNulty has been equally efficient in deciding who goes the other way too. Take Kairo Mitchell, for example. From the outside, releasing a striker who has scored 33 goals in 89 games may seem like lunacy but, for we fans who have seen every game in that timeframe, and witnessed a striker that has performed in fits and starts, it is a decision that, while brave, makes perfect sense.

“Evolution isn’t just growth,” McNulty says. “It’s also about making tough decisions to enable that growth.”

The head coach has also been working to address remaining gaps in his squad, with recruitment still ongoing. “I’ve been wanting a second goalkeeper,” he reveals. “Progress has now been made there, and one will hopefully be announced soon.”

Pre-season progress and building belief

Pre-season has, so far, brought encouraging signs both in terms of results and individual performances. Rochdale boast an almost perfect winning record across their friendly fixtures to date, with only the outing at Barrow ending in defeat. The new arrivals have impressed early, particularly Dieseruvwe, who has wasted no time settling in, scoring four goals in five games. Behind him, summer signing Joe Pritchard has stood out at left wing-back, adding energy and creativity down the flank.

But results and performances don’t tell the whole story. With several players still returning to full fitness following injuries or off-season rehabilitation, McNulty has had to be pragmatic − making use of trialists to maintain balance in both training and matches. It’s a careful juggling act, but one the head coach is handling with intent. He’s hopeful that, come the opening day, the full squad will be back on the grass and match ready.

“I haven't yet had a single session where my full group was available,” McNulty says. “That can be frustrating, but it also gives us a chance to assess trialists properly. The main thing is that we’re not rushing anyone − we want everyone to be fully fit and flying by the time the season starts, not playing catch-up in the opening weeks.”

For McNulty, the value of pre-season extends far beyond mere preparation or even results. “I don’t care too much about the results in friendlies,” he admits. “They’re nice. They provide platforms for solidifying belief, particularly in the new players, but it is performance that interests me most.” The established core, he feels, are already deeply invested: “The old players are deeply connected to what we do now, deeply connected to me. And I think we’re stronger for that connection, stronger for that alignment and unity.”

Having retained his core squad under contract has streamlined this summer’s preparations. “Having all the guys under contract has been great, it means we can get straight back into work and straight back into adding to our previous work,” McNulty says.

The integration of new signings has been particularly revealing, offering McNulty fresh perspective on how the club is perceived externally. “Because we’re so close to our approach, the way we do things, I don’t think we actually realise how good some people outside of it perceive us to be,” he reflects. “Speaking to fresh players this summer has been quite refreshing, to hear their take on it. And not just the guys that we signed − plenty of the guys that wanted to sign that we didn’t sign, people reaching out to us, said the same, too.”

It’s a view that has surprised even McNulty. “We get so close to it here on the inside, we get so used to it, and it’s nice to get the perspective from outside on what other people think we’re doing.” The recognition, he notes, extends beyond individual interest: “The last two years of work, it’s very prominent in other people’s minds now within the Football League − the way we do it, the players that we’re doing it with, their abilities, and the output we’ve had doing it. It seems to be on the football radar.”

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe has had an impressive pre-season.

Learning from heartbreak

But perhaps most intriguing is McNulty’s focus on objectives − not just results. “Of course we’re aiming to win every game we play,” he says, “but I want us to stay focused on the right objectives, on which we have an internal belief will lead us to those results.” He points to last season’s play-offs as a case study in preparation and timing. “All teams arrived in different form going into the play-offs but only one will ultimately achieve the prize by saving their best for when it matters,” McNulty reflects. “We want to learn from that − it’s not just about getting there, it’s about being ready to deliver when you arrive.”

Rochdale’s own experience last season serves as a sobering reminder of that exact point. Finishing fourth after a strong campaign, the team looked well-positioned going into the play-offs. And, when they surged to a 3-1 lead against Southend in the first eliminator, belief surged through the stands too. But what followed was a collapse that still lingers in the minds of fans − Southend clawed back to win 4-3, and, just like York City, who had amassed 92 league points, Rochdale found themselves on the wrong side of a season that had promised much but delivered zero when it mattered most.

The play-off heartbreak wasn’t an isolated incident either. Just weeks earlier, Rochdale had another golden opportunity to make history − this time in the FA Trophy. With a place at Wembley and the chance to claim the club’s first-ever national cup within reach, McNulty’s side were leading part-time Spennymoor in the semi-final, only to concede a gut-wrenching injury-time equaliser before losing on penalties. It was a collapse that pointed to deeper questions about mentality and game management under pressure − questions McNulty knows must be answered if Rochdale are to take that next step from nearly-men to promotion winners.

His reflections on Rochdale’s most high-pressure moments are frank − not defensive, not downbeat, just honest.

“Quite simply, most of our players had never been in those kinds of situations before,” he says. “They’ve got a huge passion for playing for Rochdale, and an unbelievable will to please the fans, but the expectations, the occasion − that was a first for a lot of them.”

The pressure, he says, didn’t always look the same. “I sensed tension in the trophy semi-final − not so much in the play-off game. That was more about momentum. Southend are a top side, and once they got a grip on the game, it was hard to turn that around. The stadium shifted. That’s one I need to learn from.”

McNulty isn’t one to sugar-coat things, but neither does he dwell on disappointment. What he saw wasn’t failure − it was learning.

“We’ll be better for those experiences. That season was a crucial step in the team’s development. You don’t just arrive in those moments fully formed − you grow into them.”

There’s a clarity to how he describes it. “I looked around at both teams we put out on those days, and the squad as a whole − most of those lads hadn’t played under that kind of pressure before. They just hadn’t lived it yet.”

He’s studied the effects of pressure and expectation closely. What he saw in his players − the tension, the tightness − didn’t surprise him. “Those big occasions, they were in their infancy. I know it because I’ve looked at it in depth. That kind of stress, it’s part of the process. We shouldn’t run from it. We should embrace it.”

McNulty’s backing of his players is clear and unwavering. “People can label it how they want, but my lads were the ones in the arena. They were the ones feeling that pressure − and for most of them, it was the first time they’d ever been there.”

And that, he insists, is where the value lies.

“The growth we can take from those games is huge. And you can’t overlook the fact that, in year one of a three-year evolution plan, the fact we even got to those games, that counts for something. That shows we’re on the right path.”

This perspective is informed by conversations with other managers who’ve navigated similar challenges. “I’ve spoken to other managers about these sorts of ‘gone close’ things in recent years, and, if you look at teams that went close in the trophy, went close in the play-offs, and who then maintain continuity in and around those squads − if those players or managers continue in those positions − it’s led to success in the upcoming years.”

Addressing those pressure-point failures has been central to McNulty’s project from the start. When he took charge in 2023, he inherited a relegated team bereft of togetherness and disconnected from its supporters. His response has been to instil a clear identity and performance framework − one that extends beyond the players to embrace the fanbase too. Those recent heartbreaks have only strengthened his belief that this foundational work is non-negotiable.

“I’ve been part of clubs where, if we won, the manager was happy and if we lost, they weren’t. But there was nothing to judge a performance by,” McNulty reflected. “My ultimate aim has always been to have the players operate with a unified belief that, no matter the result, what they are doing is the right thing.”

That shift has helped forge a squad the fans can now identify with − a team with a sense of purpose, clarity and collective direction.

McNulty's reflections on Rochdale’s most high-pressure moments are frank.

Tactical philosophy and flexibility

But those late collapses, and key points dropped along the way, raise questions not just about mindset, but about tactics too. Over the past season, Rochdale have largely stuck to a 3-4-2-1 shape, with little deviation − even in moments when the game appeared to be slipping away. For some supporters, this perceived tactical rigidity raised eyebrows. Has it been a case of unwavering belief in the system, or a reluctance to adapt when circumstances demand it? It’s a question worth putting directly to McNulty: is there room for more flexibility in how Rochdale set up, or is clarity and consistency of structure the foundation upon which everything else must be built?

McNulty’s response reveals the depth of thought behind his approach. “For the record, it’s not been a season of frustration for me. It’s been a season of obsession and a season of enjoyment taken from watching us. It’s a season where I feel we found a system that benefits our players, and some of our players were players that had never played within this system or within the positions that they now play. These will be some of the names that our fans will sing and who will be devastated when they leave the club one day. Kyron Gordon or Sam Beckwith, for example − players who have only ever played left-back or right-back for teams in back fours to this point in their career. I believe it’s about connecting a group of players to a system. It’s about selecting a system, whatever that’s going to be, to suit your players, to give them a chance.”

The head coach’s tactical philosophy is driven by a desire for control and dominance. “People would think that I’m obsessed with controlling a game and they’d be right. I want to take control of a game and dominate − that’s ultimately what I want. And the opponent does play a big part in how we could potentially dominate a game. I used terms like ‘total options’ early on in my tenure − I don’t know, because I’m not in the social media circle as much as some, if those words are still banded around, but, ultimately, I want to find a system that gives us a blend and a variance to our attack that allows us to win a game, and allows our fans an opportunity to be excited and proud of the team that represents them.”

But McNulty is quick to challenge any suggestion of tactical rigidity. “The system I used last season − or rather, the couple of systems we moved between − wasn’t fixed,” he says. “To the trained eye, those shifts are clear. To others, maybe not, but that doesn’t concern me. There are nuances in how we play that change depending on the opponent and their style.”

His approach, he explains, has always been shaped by the players at his disposal. “We only adjusted our system because we had a different group from the year before. As the quality of the squad improves, so does our ability to evolve the system. Better players give you more flexibility − and that’s where we’re heading.”

For McNulty, the connection between players and system is everything. “I think the system you use does matter − but what matters more, and I really mean this, is the players’ connection to it. If they’re not fully on board, it won’t work. You must believe in it completely. When you walk into a room and try to sell that idea to 30 lads, you’d better be certain − because they’ll each have their own questions, and they’ll know if you’re bluffing. If a manager doesn’t believe in his own system, the players won’t either. And if you don’t have that trust, how can you expect to win anything?”

He’s proud of what that connection between players and system produced last season. “Within that relationship, I think the team found a way,” he says. “I don’t have the stats in front of me − and I’m not going to start quoting them, that’s for others to talk about − but we kept a lot of clean sheets, scored goals, won games at home, had strong records, and went deep into competitions. That’s something to be proud of but still something that can be built upon.”

For all the tactical detail, McNulty is clear about what really matters. “No system frustrates me − they all interest me. I’m obsessive about the game. But I never forget the basics − the passion and fight that got me through my own career. That’s how I became a footballer, and it’s something I don’t let the players forget.”

Regardless of tactics or talent, certain standards remain non-negotiable. “None of it matters − the system, the quality of the players − if there’s no fight, no hunger, no connection to what you’re playing for. That’s always front and centre for me. And the players know exactly where I stand when it comes to effort, commitment, or doing right by their teammates − whether they’re in the team or not.”

When it comes to dealing with opposition tactics, particularly the low blocks that have become increasingly common against Rochdale, McNulty shows both understanding and pragmatism. He acknowledges the tactical challenges these approaches present while putting them in context. “What I would say is that the opponent is allowed to play well, and the opponent is allowed to try hard to try to stop us scoring, and the opponent is allowed to try to score as well. And they are trying to do that every single week, and they are quite turned on by playing at the Crown Oil Arena because we’re a good club in this league. And we face all different strategies − the low block is one of them. That’s become more prominent, and that’s because we’ve got better and better and better.”

Rather than seeing these defensive approaches as a problem, McNulty views them as a sign of progress. “If our fans can find a positive in it, it’s that we’ve become a better team that people are more fearful of, and they try to take the ball off us even less now because they’re more inclined to try to protect what they’ve got from the off and nick what they can.”

The solution, he believes, lies in continued evolution. “I think we've had to become an evolving team. As we grow and improve, other teams take notice and often adjust how they play against us. In response, we also adapt − particularly in how we recruit and build our squad. The key is to maintain the strengths that have made us successful and continue to instil that same fear in the opposition. If teams keep approaching us the same way, we can keep refining our recruitment strategy. We've already started doing that this year. There were certain types of goals I felt we lacked, and I believe we've now addressed that.”

It’s an analytical approach that recognises both the challenges and opportunities ahead. “We now consistently face teams that defend. We now have an opportunity to react to what we think could help in that regard and I’m looking forward to those challenges again this season.”

Joe Pritchard has stood out at left wing-back.

Building for the future

For McNulty, last season’s disappointments must be seen within the wider context of the club’s long-term rebuild. “If we’d gone up last season, of course it would have been brilliant,” he says. “But the project I’ve been given, and the budget I’m working with, is built around a three-year evolution of the squad − so that when we do go up, we’re absolutely equipped for the EFL, front to back and top to bottom.”

That process is already bearing fruit. “This season, if we go up, I’ll have less work to do than last to ensure that ready-made quality is already in the squad,” he adds. “I know sometimes that’s not what people want to hear, and they hate me talking about clout − but what I mean by clout is a team that can build an EFL-ready squad in one season because they’ve got the budget to do it. Our owners are brilliant in backing me, but they’re not going to throw millions into the playing squad in one go. It’s got to be done sustainably, in the right way, and that takes time. It’s my job to manage that evolution and identify the right players at the right time as the squad grows.”

McNulty’s commitment to this sustainable approach extends beyond mere financial pragmatism − it’s about maintaining his integrity as a manager. “Attached to this is my ego. While I’m trying to forge the beginnings of my career as a manager − which feels well on the way now, by the way − I’ve had opportunities where I could be, and I don’t want to use the word ‘reckless,’ but I could have far more freely deployed funds in certain directions to maybe give myself an opportunity to enhance my standing in the game by making decisions that I don’t feel would benefit the club long-term, medium-term, but would benefit me in the shorter term by giving me an opportunity to win quicker and maybe gain some reputational enhancement.”

His refusal to take shortcuts stems from a deep connection to the club and its ownership. “I’ve never done that. I’ve never done that because of my connection to the team and because I’ve sat in the room with the Ogden family. I’ve sat in the room with Cameron [co-chairman] plenty of times now, and with his advisors. Everything they share, everything they radiate when they speak about the club, is true to me. It’s genuine. And it comes from the right place − they are trying to do this organically. They are trying to do this, certainly in the early stages, in line with how they grow their other businesses.”

The learning curve for the owners has been steep but impressive. “I think they very quickly learned − because they’re very streetwise people in business − that they seem to assimilate the information needed to be successful in almost anything quickly. They’ve learned about this game, and they’ve upskilled themselves quite quickly, but they still want to do this organically. Are they accelerating it probably more than they thought they would? I would say yes, slightly, but I think that’s also because they’ve learned that what we were trying to do last year just isn’t enough. It just isn’t enough because the National League, without the same regulations as the EFL, is a little bit like the Wild West.”

McNulty’s confidence in his team’s quality relative to higher divisions is striking. “I believe that we are probably now better than a portion of League Two teams. I believe we’re an operation that runs well, a team that runs well with the system, with clarity, with a lot of guys on one page, with a good culture. They all love playing for the team and they hurt when they lose. On top of that, they’ve got good quality. I think that, all added together, makes us better than several teams that languish in the bottom half of League Two each season but benefit from the breathing space that only two will go down.”

The cruel mathematics of the National League aren’t lost on him. “I think that’s why these guys go up from the National League and you don’t see them come back down again. You see them have healthy, flourishing seasons. We’re not far behind the teams that have gone up, but there’s a cruelty to this league that the numbers aren’t right. Last season, in any other division in the Football League − not all of them, but most of them − we were one place away from an automatic promotion place.”

Despite the longer timescales, McNulty remains committed to the organic approach. “I think it’s an obligation, based on where we were two years ago when I took the helm in the middle of our perils, that we do try to do this organically. Everyone wants success quickly, but success sustainably. And, you know, trackable growth − it’s there to be seen in the last two seasons.”

His confidence in the model being implemented is backed by measurable progress. “The two things ownership groups want from any manager or head coach; is they want to see an implementation of a model. And the second thing they want is evidence that, in line with that model being implemented, you’re also growing the team’s rate of success, and that’s primarily points-per-game type stuff.”

The evidence, he believes, speaks for itself. “I think we’ve done both at a healthy rate. Everyone wants success yesterday, everyone wants it a bit quicker − that’s football, that’s just the world we operate in. But the reality is, I must be very happy with how we’ve managed to knit together organic growth and actual success growth on the pitch.”

Matt Done knows what success at Rochdale looks like.

New voices, familiar values

That evolution doesn’t just apply to players, but behind the scenes too. This summer, McNulty has added trusted, battle-tested figures who not only bring coaching acumen, but a deep-rooted understanding of what success looks like at Rochdale. Jason Taylor, a key part of the club’s 2009/10 promotion-winning side, has joined as First Team Assistant Head Coach following a well-regarded coaching stint at Barrow. He’s joined by Matt Done, another modern club icon whose energy, professionalism and history of promotion make him a natural influence around the squad. Both return to Spotland with a shared DNA − and, crucially, an emotional investment in the club’s future. They join Josh Lillis, already on the coaching staff, and another former player whose career in Dale colours was defined by a demand for high standards. Together, they form a coaching core that not only knows what winning here feels like, but what it takes to make it happen. Meanwhile, Head of Performance Services Kevin Gibbins moved on to a new challenge in League One with Cardiff City – a move that reunites him with former Dale manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

The departure of Gibbins to Cardiff was bittersweet for McNulty. “First and foremost, I’m delighted for Gibbo. His opportunity to go and work at, what is, behind the scenes and in all but name, a Premier League club with a Premier League fanbase. Being the biggest club in that country’s catchment area, being gargantuan, they find themselves down at a level that just seems surreal. But it’s an unreal opportunity for him and one that he couldn’t turn down for numerous reasons. And he goes with my well wishes. And I’ve got real gratitude for how he helped me in my first two years in the job.”

McNulty had already prepared for such eventualities. “These are things again, as a football manager, you always prepare for, particularly when you don’t operate in the upper echelons. Staff members move on from big clubs, sure, but it’s far more normal to lose staff members in the lower leagues. 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.”

The appointments of Done and Taylor were made with purpose. “What mattered to me was their understanding – of us, of Rochdale, of what it means to play for this club,” McNulty explains. “They know the hardship we’ve been through, the values we expect from our players. These are things we’ve embedded in the group – and now, the dressing room doesn’t accept anything less from anyone who comes in. It’s not quite a ‘no dickheads’ policy exactly... but it’s something close to that.”

Both bring fresh insight from time spent at other clubs. “Doney and Jason have been out elsewhere, in environments with different ideas about how football should be played,” he says. “After two years of building here – and a season where we spent so much emotionally – I felt it was the right time to bring that alternative perspective in. Our season, the way it was snatched away from us at the end, took a lot out of us. And that kind of strain does test your energy heading into the next season.”

For McNulty, the new additions offer crucial support. “I felt the energy, the values, and the connection they brought − their understanding of who we are as a football club − would be really important. Not just for the players, but for me as well. Two years in, the daily demands on me are constant. There's an expectation that we should beat anyone and everyone, regardless of the circumstances − even in pre-season friendlies. We played Grimsby, a team from a higher league, but that doesn’t matter to our fans. They expect us to win. They expect me to win.”  

The blend of familiarity and fresh ideas was precisely what McNulty sought. “That influx of energy coming into the building, but also with new ideas, new insight, new curiosities − I thought it was good for us, and I’m really pleased with them both.”

For McNulty and Rochdale, the rebuild continues. This is a club no longer hoping to win promotion by accident. They’re aiming to earn it, and be ready for what comes next, on their own terms.

Jason Taylor was a key part of the club’s 2009/10 promotion-winning side.

Pix courtesy of The Voice of Spotland/Dan Youngs/Rochdale AFC