Following the resignation of Chris Dunphy, on behalf of Rochdale Football Club I would like to thank Chris for his unstinting service to the Club and for having driven it to the most successful period in our long history.
With the backing of the Board, I will be taking over from Chris as Chairman of Rochdale Football Club on December 29th and to the best of my abilities, will endeavour to take the Club forward to continued success.
In the interim, Andrew Kelly will re-join the Board with immediate effect and we welcome his expertise and involvement back to the Football Club. Andrew will reassume oversight of the RAFC Academy of which he was instrumental in laying the foundations of its success.
Additionally, Tony Pockney has agreed to join the Board and will bring much needed financial expertise to the future direction of the Football Club. Tony is currently Vice President of Finance at Smith & Nephew, a leading Global Medical Device manufacturer. As importantly, he and his family are season ticket holders of Rochdale Football Club and I am confident that he will bring his underlying passion for the Club to the Boardroom and will be a great addition to the team.
Our current Chief Executive James Mason will step down from his role to focus on his own sports agency business and other opportunities that have been presented to him in recent weeks but the Club will continue to use his expertise as an executive consultant going forward. We would like to thank James for his professionalism and commitment to the role making a positive impact in a short space of time. He and his family will always be welcome at Rochdale AFC.
With immediate effect, David Bottomley has agreed to step up to the full-time role of Chief Executive of Rochdale Football Club and I am confident that with his in-depth knowledge after 3.5 years on the Board coupled with his business acumen, David is supremely qualified to address the challenges that we face in taking the Club forward.
I have discussed this at length with Keith Hill and he is fully bought into the changes we are making and our hopes for the continued success on the pitch.
I would ask that everybody supports these appointments.
We will be making an announcement about the date for a Fans Forum to take place in the New Year as early as is practical where there will be an opportunity to meet the new Board members.
Thank you.
Andrew Kilpatrick
President, Rochdale AFC