Ahead of the transfer window opening on January 2nd, Manager Keith Hill has shared his thoughts on recruitment.
Speaking to Dale PlayerHD, he commented: “Do I want to improve the squad? Yes. Can we compete in recruiting players that will improve us? That’s the big question.
“It’s very difficult to nick one [a player] now. We’re competing against a very ambitious league this season with respect to other clubs pushing the boat out a bit.
“It’s very difficult to recruit and nick a few players just because they want to come and play for Keith Hill and Rochdale Football Club, and because they love the way we’re doing things.
“If I don’t feel as though recruitment is going to improve us beyond at least James Hooper, then I'll be afraid to do it because I believe James has done well enough to sustain and maintain his place in the squad. I’m looking for him to develop – he’s had a taste of league football.
“He’s the marker in the sand where I’m saying, ‘Go on then. Who is going to improve us. Who is going to make us better than James Hooper.’
“If there is that player out there for the money that we can spend, and he’s not being pursued by another football club in League One or the Championship, then we’ll try and do it.
“But I’m reasonably happy with the squad.
“I’m trying to read the future but you can’t do it as a Manager. You’ve got to play in the present, the right here, right now.
“I’m frustratedly happy at times because I believe as a squad of players, with continuity and stability, we could be very close to being an excellent side in League One, and that’s what I’m dealing with psychologically.”