Here's what manager Keith Hill has to say on today's signing of Jordan Williams.
“He’s a great acquisition for the football club. He’s somebody we’ve been pursuing since the end of the season. It’s just great business to get the deal done.
The player himself is going to be a privilege to work with. He’s very honest, grounded, he’s very hungry and determined. He’s got great ability, his assists and goal scoring record for Barrow this season has been superb and he was our number one target to recruit in those wide areas of the pitch where we’ve lost Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, so I’m really pleased with the replacement for Nathaniel.
Quite a lot of clubs have been monitoring his situation up at Barrow, previous to that he was at Northwich Victoria. He’s had an excellent season. He’s got an abundance of spontaneous skill and creativity and he’s the type of player we’re looking to recruit to continue to score the amount of goals we have done this season. He’s been on our radar, he’s been flagged up more than once and we’re really, really happy that we concluded business. He’s hungry to get this opportunity and I think the transition from where he’s been playing to league 1 will be a simple one for him.
This signing shows ambition from the Board of Directors and Russ. It’s not very often that I ask (to pay a fee) but I thought it was necessary. We have got to catch up with the financial world within league 1, and it’s a way of doing it but it’s still prudent. The business we’re doing doesn’t go outside our monetary boundaries, it stays within our budget. The club within my budget will back me, but they realise that league 1 is getting deeper and deeper with football clubs that are willing to spend money. We can compete from the teams’ point of view in developing players but we do need that financial infrastructure to support the team. I’m really pleased that the Board of Directors have seen this is good business for the football club, and I would like to thank the Board of Directors and Russ in particular for making sure that this signing was achieved, but it does still lie within our budgetary remit.
We’re just trying to build a team, we’re building a squad of players that we feel covers all bases as we’re leading into august. With Reece Brown and now Jordan Williams signing we’re on the way to making sure our squad is in good shape going into pre-season and August. I’m still looking to recruit at least 2, maybe 3 more players between now and the end of August. Things will develop but we’ve got a very good nucleus of a squad leading us into next season with the one or two additions we’ve already achieved.”
On signing with Rochdale today, Jordan Williams gave his thoughts:
“I’m delighted to join the club. I’m just delighted to get it over the line and finally signed and focus on relaxing and getting back for pre-season now.
I don’t live too far from the club, and when I spoke to the manger he really sold the club to me so joining the club was an easy decision to make.
I’m quite a direct player really, I just get hold of the ball and run down the line. I scored most of my goals from outside the box last season, and if I see a chance to shoot I’ll shoot.
I know I’ve got to work hard under the manager and keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully I can kick on.”
Jordan will wear the Number 11 shirt.