Manager Keith Hill has paid tribute to Chris Dunphy, saying that he deserves a lot of credit for what he has achieved during his 12-years as Chairman of Rochdale Football Club.
Mr Dunphy took the decision to retire from his role earlier this month, with his last game at the helm on December 29th, when Dale hosted Bradford City at the Crown Oil Arena.
“It has been an emotional day for Chris and his family, and I’m glad they were all there to support him,” said Hill.
“He has been a brilliant Chairman to work with and on behalf of for Rochdale Football Club. We’ve had a lot of teams and we’ve done a lot of great business.
“We’ve had a massive amount of successes and special times together - two promotions, the play-offs and Wembley. We’ve had the recycling of players and the building of new sides, and I think it has been brilliant. I must say that he has been an enjoyable Chairman to work for during the time I’ve been at the football club, because he has allowed me to do my job and that relationship has stood the test of time.
“I have to admire him with respect to last season when many a football club would have questioned the manager’s position, but he didn’t, although he probably did internally over a glass of wine, and he kept his cool and we were successful.
“He deserves to get a lot of credit for what has been achieved at this football club – the purchase of the football club under his stewardship and the twice that we got promoted, so well done to Chris and the rest of his family for the successes that we’ve had.
“It’s a sad day but the club will survive and it’ll move on, and I know that Chris will always be an avid supporter of what we do at this football club. He’ll never be far away if I need him.”