Manager Keith Hill has spoken to Dale Player following Scott Hogan’s move to Brentford…
“I believe he has chosen a really good management team. The Chairman, or the owner of Brentford, has big plans and I believe he has chosen a really good team, as well as a football club,"said Hill. "I think it will be relatively easy for him to slip into their side because they’re similar in their principles to the way that we want to play. I think it’ll be a great fit for Scotty Hogan and I also think it’ll be a great fit for Brentford.
“And we stood our ground – other clubs had made bids, contrary to reports, and we got what we consider to be the best value for Scotty Hogan. It has been good business by Brentford and Rochdale Football Club.”
He continued: “He’s a talent and can play in any one of four positions – 7,11, 9 or 10 – and that’s what Brentford are getting. Arguably I’m going to have to recruit two players to replace him and that’s testament to what he has done.
“I’m so pleased for Scotty Hogan – he deserves it. The last two or three weeks have been tough due to a lot of speculation, but it’ll make him stronger. For whatever reason Scott has never really got on the get go until last season when he found a home. He found a home at Rochdale and we found one unbelievable player. I wish him all the best for the future and I’ll be keeping a keen eye on what he does. I suppose the Rochdale supporters will be, as well as the players."
Hill admits that he will need to replace Scott, but says the money will come out his current budget, not from the money received from the sale of the 22-year-old.
“We have to replace him and we will do. The money that we receive from the sale of Scotty Hogan can be invested into the future of the football club. We have a budget and I still have room within my budget to recruit up to four players plus loan players, but I believe after witnessing Saturday that we have the nucleus of a very good young squad. I do need replacements for Scott, there’s no question about that, and I maybe need one or two more faces to freshen the whole place up, but we’ll do it by sticking to our financial plan.”
The full eight minute interview is available to watch on Dale Player.