Jim McNulty has been chatting to Dale PlayerHD as the sun sets on day one in Tenerife.
After penning a two-year-deal at the club last month, he welcomes the trip so early in the pre-season calendar.
“I’m happy to get the trip so early in the pre-season schedule because spending an intensive seven days with a group of lads means you get to know them a lot better – it always helps with the settling in stage.
“If we had been at home for a week before we came away then you’d only be with them for a couple of hours at the most, and even during that time there’s not much time to get to know each other.”
He continued: “It’s not just about team bonding, it’s about the Manager getting his messages across about how he wants the team to play this season. It’s good for me to come in and learn that intensively over seven days because I need to know what the Gaffer’s thoughts plans and messages are.”
On YouTube - click HERE to hear Jim's thoughts at the end of day one.
The move to Spotland for McNulty sees him re-united with Hill, who he worked for at Barnsley, and the defender says the opportunity to join up with the Gaffer again played a big part in his decision to sign for Dale.
“I’m delighted to be working with him again - he was probably the main factor in me coming here. I enjoyed my time previously with Keith at Barnsley and I was really happy to re-unite with Keith, and I was happy to join a good team.
“I like his thoughts on football. I feel as though my natural thinking on the game of football is often quite similar to the things that’s he’s saying.
“To believe in what someone is saying is a big part about working with someone. I think quite similarly to the messages that he portrays and for me personally, that’s the main attraction.”
The full interview will be available to view on Dale PlayerHD on Saturday.