Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale PlayerHD after securing the services of defender Harrison McGahey on a two-year-deal…
“I’m really pleased because I have admired Harrison for a long time,” said Hill.
“When he made his debut at Blackpool, he played the last four games of the season when they wanted Championship survival and he was only 17 at the time. There’s definitely a talent there.
“He then moved to Sheffield United and I followed him there because, for me, he ticks a lot of the boxes. There’s one box that he has to tick and that’s him not being a bit part player. We’re going to give him that platform - I see him as a player who we can help develop and he can help us.
“I was watching when Nigel (Adkins) did his retained/ released list and he actually got offered a contract, but when Chris (Wilder) came in they went in a different direction.
“I was very keen to see how the land lay, and when Harrison became available as a free transfer I was straight in touch with him and his agent.
“He was definitely my first choice to come and replace Ashley Eastham and Oliver Lancashire on the right hand side of the defence.”
Harrison, who is only 20-years-old, joins Dale after leaving Sheffield United. He made 22 appearances for the Blades during his time at Bramall Lane, and Hill believes that will stand him in good stead.
“The psychology of playing for a big club [like Sheffield United] is that you have to be successful. For somebody so young to be playing in that side, I think it will stand him in good stead.
“It takes a big character and a lot of bottle to play in front of a big crowd, an expectant crowd who expect the team to get promoted, and sometimes that can weigh heavy on a player.
“He is young, but like I said, he ticks the majority of boxes that I want to be ticked. We as a coaching team and a football club will give him the rest.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.