Wednesday 2 May 2012 14:17, UK
Rochdale captain Gary Jones has offered a frank assessment of the club's relegation, saying signing new players is vital to their success.
Jones, Dale's record appearance holder, believes the club failed to build on the foundations laid by ex-boss Keith Hill after his departure to Barnsley in the close season. Steve Eyre, then current manager John Coleman tried to bring about a change in fortunes, but the summer departures of key players such as Chris O'Grady to Sheffield Wednesday also proved a hurdle too steep for Rochdale to negotiate. "The whole season has been a big disappointment, we haven't been good enough," Jones told the Manchester Evening News."I know we lost the manager and some of our best players, but you have to look to recruit new blood and we've just not done that. "We've had nothing but success here for the last four or five years, getting into the play-offs, going to Wembley and getting promoted, so this is the first time in a long time that we have really struggled and it's a massive disappointment." He added: "We need an injection of new players. I'm sure there will be a big turnaround in the playing staff and we just have to keep working hard and hopefully bounce straight back."
