Manager Keith Hill spoke to Dale Player ahead of Saturday’s League One fixture v Colchester United...
“On the football grape vine there are a lot of managers looking at our team with a little bit of envy. Steve Cotterill and Nigel Clough, who are two exceptionally good managers at two of the big hitters in our league have been very, very complimentary about the way that we played and the young players that are coming through.
“We’ve just got to stick to task, which will do. I’m looking forward to the remainder of the games - they’re going to be difficult regardless of who it is and we shouldn’t take anything for granted.
“It’s a very dangerous game that you play if you take anything for granted in any walk of life, never mind professional football.”
He continued: “Nothing has been achieved yet, even although I believe the season has been tremendous at times. We’ve picked up results, we’ve had score-lines where being victorious hasn't flattered us and we’ve lost games that we shouldn’t have lost. But if you look at League One, League Two and the Championship in particular, the leagues are becoming really condensed. There’s a middle territory now because it’s being saturated. Teams are being brought so close together because they’re capable of beating one another.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s game, Hill also revealed that Dale had a bid turned down for a player last week.
“I’m pleased [with what has been achieved so far]. I’ve been pleased all season and I think we’re in good shape.
“We’re in good shape financially as well and it should allow me to improve this squad of players and our chances for the remainder of the season and next season tremendously.
“We had a bid rejected for a player last week who I want to bring into the club to improve us for this season and for next. If that was to re-present it’s self then I suggest that it’s something that the club should do.
"I get tremendous support from the Chairman, the Board of Directors and the Chief Exec – if I feel as though there’s a necessity then they support me.”