Rochdale Football Club is delighted to announce that both Manager Keith Hill and his Assistant Chris Beech have signed extensions to their current contracts.
It means the pair, who still had another year and half remaining on their existing deals, are now contracted to the club until the summer of 2018.
“It’s fantastic for all concerned that both men have agreed two year extensions to their existing contracts,” said the Board of Directors.
“Stability is one of the key components to any successful team and by committing to the next three and half years, they have demonstrated their ambition to take the club as high as possible, whilst maintaining the club philosophy of living within our means.
“These are probably the longest contracts the club has ever issued and are recognition of the great team efforts and results that they’re achieving with the resources available to them.”
Hill commented: “It offers me an opportunity to carrying on developing that stability and continuity. I’m really pleased to be in a position where the Board of Directors, the players and the supporters trust me to continue to develop the football club in the same way that we have done since I’ve come back to the football club and in my previous time here. I want the good times to continue at this football club as they have done in my time here.
“What we’ve achieved makes me proud and it makes my family proud as well - the DNA of this Football Club is part of my family. The Football Club is run by people who have the same values and family values that I have. It makes me immensely proud of what we’ve achieved and what the players have achieved.
“Myself and Chris Beech signing a new deal gives security to all our backroom staff. Our staff are doing a great job – from the Youth Team staff to Academy Staff through to the First Team staff, and I think that’s the continuity that the football club is looking for."
Beech added: “This contract will take me past ten years consecutive service at the club and I’m very grateful for the opportunities that Rochdale Football Club has offered me as a coach and as an Assistant Manager.
“It’s a joy to work with Keith and the backroom staff. In the last two years myself and Keith have developed a strong relationship and we speak a similar footballing language. Keith has high standards, as we all do, and he has a strong manager’s message, which is congruent amongst the players. We understand that is one of our strengths because when it gets tested like it does every week, it's important that you stick to your traits and that's what we advocate to the players who represent that."