| He has gone on 18:09 - Jun 5 with 9749 views | EllDale |
Great letter |  | |  |
| He has gone on 18:11 - Jun 5 with 9712 views | Cedar_Room |
Jimmy McNulty has penned the below letter to Rochdale AFC supporters after leaving his role as Head Coach.
After 11 incredible years at Rochdale AFC, my chapter has come to an end.
This has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. From the very first day I walked through the doors at Spotland, this Club has felt like home. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but through every challenge, every high and low, the spirit of Rochdale has never failed to inspire me.
To Cameron Ogden and the board, thank you for your trust, your support, and for giving me the platform to build an idea we could all enjoy together. Your belief in me and in the vision we built together has been vital.
I’m truly grateful for the unwavering support and commitment towards achieving our aligned objectives. The Ogden family’s legacy at this Club will last longer than any on-pitch achievements, and I thank you for coming to Rochdale AFC when you did and giving us the opportunity to change direction.
To the fans and supporters, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Your passion, your loyalty, and your incredible support, especially through the difficult times, have meant more than you will ever know.
Whether it was a wet Tuesday night in the league or that unforgettable day at Wembley, you have been the heartbeat of this Football Club. You made every single moment special. I will never forget the noise, the colour, and the unwavering belief you showed in us. The Sandy Lane, Main Stand, Pearl Street, U-Block… This Club belongs to you.
To the staff, past and present, the unsung heroes behind the scenes. You have worked so tirelessly day in, day out. You are the backbone of everything we achieved. Your dedication, professionalism, and loyalty have been extraordinary. Our achievements couldn’t have been reached without you. Thank you for the long hours, the sacrifices, the support, and for sharing this journey with me.
And finally, to my players. This one is the hardest to write.
You are the reason I came to work every single day with optimism. You’ve given everything for this Club and for each other, and I’ll always admire you. Through tough moments, injuries, setbacks, and moments of pure joy and fun, you’ve shown incredible character and growth. Watching you develop as players, as a team, and as humans has been one of the greatest honours of my career.
To end this chapter by winning promotion together at Wembley Stadium – there really is no more perfect way to say goodbye. That day, and that moment, will live with me forever. You did it. You earned it. It was always your team, and I am so incredibly proud of every single one of you.
Thank you for trusting, for fighting, and for creating memories that myself and my family will cherish for the rest of our lives.
Rochdale AFC will always have a special place in my heart. This isn’t goodbye forever, just the closing of one very special chapter.
Up the Dale.
Jimmy |  | | |
| He has gone on 18:17 - Jun 5 with 9609 views | TalkingSutty |
Splitting up is never easy, especially when you can't provide the things that the other partner desires. Good luck to Jim, i hope it works out for him and Stockport treat him well, give him enough time to implement his ideas. His letter is touching also, nice words. It's great that the Club are already progressing in respect of finding a replacement and the way they have dealt with this, the statement etc, is commendable. I'm looking forward to the start of a new chapter. [Post edited 5 Jun 18:21]
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| He has gone on 18:28 - Jun 5 with 9485 views | blackdogblue |
I only have 2 comments..
Wish him all the best sincerely
Fantastic season card sales to date.. Club needs to sort this out quickly as we need to rebuild the squad… |  |
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| He has gone on 18:32 - Jun 5 with 9406 views | isitme |
I wish him well. I assume Gordon will follow him. Hopefully an appointment will be made soon so they can get a squad in place. We might see some of the contracted players move on depending on what system the new manager plays.
Have Done, Taylor and Lillis also gone? |  | | |
| He has gone on 18:48 - Jun 5 with 9239 views | SaxonDale |
| He has gone on 18:32 - Jun 5 by isitme |
I wish him well. I assume Gordon will follow him. Hopefully an appointment will be made soon so they can get a squad in place. We might see some of the contracted players move on depending on what system the new manager plays.
Have Done, Taylor and Lillis also gone? |
No reference to them leaving as of yet. A part of me wonders whether some of the team are on the list of potential Jim replacements. |  | | |
| He has gone on 18:51 - Jun 5 with 9214 views | 49thseason |
| He has gone on 18:11 - Jun 5 by Cedar_Room |
Jimmy McNulty has penned the below letter to Rochdale AFC supporters after leaving his role as Head Coach.
After 11 incredible years at Rochdale AFC, my chapter has come to an end.
This has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. From the very first day I walked through the doors at Spotland, this Club has felt like home. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but through every challenge, every high and low, the spirit of Rochdale has never failed to inspire me.
To Cameron Ogden and the board, thank you for your trust, your support, and for giving me the platform to build an idea we could all enjoy together. Your belief in me and in the vision we built together has been vital.
I’m truly grateful for the unwavering support and commitment towards achieving our aligned objectives. The Ogden family’s legacy at this Club will last longer than any on-pitch achievements, and I thank you for coming to Rochdale AFC when you did and giving us the opportunity to change direction.
To the fans and supporters, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Your passion, your loyalty, and your incredible support, especially through the difficult times, have meant more than you will ever know.
Whether it was a wet Tuesday night in the league or that unforgettable day at Wembley, you have been the heartbeat of this Football Club. You made every single moment special. I will never forget the noise, the colour, and the unwavering belief you showed in us. The Sandy Lane, Main Stand, Pearl Street, U-Block… This Club belongs to you.
To the staff, past and present, the unsung heroes behind the scenes. You have worked so tirelessly day in, day out. You are the backbone of everything we achieved. Your dedication, professionalism, and loyalty have been extraordinary. Our achievements couldn’t have been reached without you. Thank you for the long hours, the sacrifices, the support, and for sharing this journey with me.
And finally, to my players. This one is the hardest to write.
You are the reason I came to work every single day with optimism. You’ve given everything for this Club and for each other, and I’ll always admire you. Through tough moments, injuries, setbacks, and moments of pure joy and fun, you’ve shown incredible character and growth. Watching you develop as players, as a team, and as humans has been one of the greatest honours of my career.
To end this chapter by winning promotion together at Wembley Stadium – there really is no more perfect way to say goodbye. That day, and that moment, will live with me forever. You did it. You earned it. It was always your team, and I am so incredibly proud of every single one of you.
Thank you for trusting, for fighting, and for creating memories that myself and my family will cherish for the rest of our lives.
Rochdale AFC will always have a special place in my heart. This isn’t goodbye forever, just the closing of one very special chapter.
Up the Dale.
Jimmy |
No point in dwelling on the past, we have the core of a decent squad and apparently the 3 musketeers, Taylor, Done and Lillis are not leaving. Great leaders leave their clubs /companies in a better place than the one they inherited, McNulty did that...
And so the wheel turns and new opportunities arise, whoever comes in does so without many of the worries and problems attached to other clubs, a new era beckons...new training ground next year, new CEO, new pitch, renovated bars and food outlets, and a sense of continuous improvement. A rare opportunity for the right person I would suggest.... A chance to move the club to another new level. |  | | |
| He has gone on 18:51 - Jun 5 with 9197 views | D_Alien |
The letter from Jim McNulty and the statement by the club that succession planning is well underway gives us all a great reset opprtunity, ahead of the EFL campaign
Jim has his work cut out at Stockport but his desire to progress his career is admirable and i wish him well
At the same time, a new head coach will have the momentum of our success to build on. More often than not, new managers/coaches are appointed on the back of a downward trend, but not with Dale. Whoever it is couldn't wish for better ownership and has the chance to take us from strength to strength on the pitch
If anything, my optimism for the new season has risen. Jim's legacy here is secured and perhaps that also played a part in his decision, but now we look forward to a new regime |  |
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| He has gone on 18:53 - Jun 5 with 9152 views | isitme |
| He has gone on 18:48 - Jun 5 by SaxonDale |
No reference to them leaving as of yet. A part of me wonders whether some of the team are on the list of potential Jim replacements. |
Could be promotion for Taylor and Done? Whoever they appoint I am sure they will get full support from the board and supporters. | | | |
| He has gone on 18:56 - Jun 5 with 9114 views | isitme |
| He has gone on 18:51 - Jun 5 by 49thseason |
No point in dwelling on the past, we have the core of a decent squad and apparently the 3 musketeers, Taylor, Done and Lillis are not leaving. Great leaders leave their clubs /companies in a better place than the one they inherited, McNulty did that...
And so the wheel turns and new opportunities arise, whoever comes in does so without many of the worries and problems attached to other clubs, a new era beckons...new training ground next year, new CEO, new pitch, renovated bars and food outlets, and a sense of continuous improvement. A rare opportunity for the right person I would suggest.... A chance to move the club to another new level. |
Good point about leaving the club in a better place. The new manager has an excellent board and a core of players under contract who can compete in League Two.
Where is this apparently come from regarding Taylor, Done and Lillis? | | | |
| He has gone on 19:01 - Jun 5 with 9076 views | 442Dale |
| He has gone on 18:51 - Jun 5 by 49thseason |
No point in dwelling on the past, we have the core of a decent squad and apparently the 3 musketeers, Taylor, Done and Lillis are not leaving. Great leaders leave their clubs /companies in a better place than the one they inherited, McNulty did that...
And so the wheel turns and new opportunities arise, whoever comes in does so without many of the worries and problems attached to other clubs, a new era beckons...new training ground next year, new CEO, new pitch, renovated bars and food outlets, and a sense of continuous improvement. A rare opportunity for the right person I would suggest.... A chance to move the club to another new level. |
Clint Hill, who was assistant to Challinor has just announced, he’s leaving Stockport.
It would be very surprising if at least some of our backroom staff aren’t announced as joining McNulty soon. |  |
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| He has gone on 19:09 - Jun 5 with 8979 views | NorthernDale |
The club in announcing McNulty departure stated
' A number of candidates have been identified, and discussions are well underway. We aim to complete this process promptly to give ourselves the best possible preparation time ahead of our Sky Bet League Two campaign. We will keep supporters informed every step of the way.' - which is a positive sign.
Hopefully the club have retained the services of Taylor and Done. | | | |
| He has gone on 19:15 - Jun 5 with 8921 views | TalkingSutty |
There's a great first interview with Jim over on the Stockport County You Tube channel, it's well worth a listen. | | | |
| He has gone on 20:01 - Jun 5 with 8606 views | judd |
| He has gone on 19:15 - Jun 5 by TalkingSutty |
There's a great first interview with Jim over on the Stockport County You Tube channel, it's well worth a listen. |
Emotion - pride and happiness. Moreso than a couple of weeks ago, Jim?
12 months as a player there.
He's gone, will probably dismantle the infrastructure at Dale. |  |
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| He has gone on 20:01 - Jun 5 with 8604 views | Plattyswrinklynuts |
| He has gone on 18:51 - Jun 5 by 49thseason |
No point in dwelling on the past, we have the core of a decent squad and apparently the 3 musketeers, Taylor, Done and Lillis are not leaving. Great leaders leave their clubs /companies in a better place than the one they inherited, McNulty did that...
And so the wheel turns and new opportunities arise, whoever comes in does so without many of the worries and problems attached to other clubs, a new era beckons...new training ground next year, new CEO, new pitch, renovated bars and food outlets, and a sense of continuous improvement. A rare opportunity for the right person I would suggest.... A chance to move the club to another new level. |
Precisely. With our financial stability, forward thinking ownership & plans in place to move forward the club is in arguably a better position than ever (certainly in my lifetime).
It’s an attractive proposition for the right manager to take the club to the next level. |  | | |
| He has gone on 20:05 - Jun 5 with 8573 views | davidab2202 |
Karl Robinson seems to be getting a lot of speculation as the chosen one if social media is to be believed | | | |
| He has gone on 20:06 - Jun 5 with 8551 views | Delboy |
It shows how the Club has moved on.
No longer going cap in hand seeking applications from all and sundry in the hope we get a suitable candidate. This time we have taken the initiative and are 'head hunting' identifying those candidates we want and who fit the philosophys and ambitions the Ogdens have for this Club.
The future is in safe hands and I can't wait to see the direction it takes us. UTD. | | | |
| He has gone on 20:08 - Jun 5 with 8518 views | D_Alien |
| He has gone on 20:01 - Jun 5 by judd |
Emotion - pride and happiness. Moreso than a couple of weeks ago, Jim?
12 months as a player there.
He's gone, will probably dismantle the infrastructure at Dale. |
"Haunted by success" | |
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| He has gone on 20:09 - Jun 5 with 8515 views | Knowlesy |
| He has gone on 20:01 - Jun 5 by judd |
Emotion - pride and happiness. Moreso than a couple of weeks ago, Jim?
12 months as a player there.
He's gone, will probably dismantle the infrastructure at Dale. |
It's just football talk. He's not gonna say he doesn't want to be there is he?
Would you turn down the opportunity to double your salary in an organisation working above your current level? Of course not. |  | | |
| He has gone on 20:13 - Jun 5 with 8463 views | judd |
| He has gone on 20:09 - Jun 5 by Knowlesy |
It's just football talk. He's not gonna say he doesn't want to be there is he?
Would you turn down the opportunity to double your salary in an organisation working above your current level? Of course not. |
How do you know I haven't? Because I have.
How do you know Jim's terms?
He's gone. He got my appreciation at Wembley and the Town Hall. | |
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| He has gone on 20:18 - Jun 5 with 8392 views | Clivert |
Thanks Jim.
You are us leaving on the highest of highs, you completed your job remit so thank you.
Thank you for your years of service as player, it shouldn't be forgotten that you were mainstay in our defence during the most successful period in the club's history when we were challenging at the top end of League One.
This really is an exciting time to be a Dale fan now! The club's stock is high within the borough and with The Ogdens in charge we are an attractive job opportunity for any proven manager.
UP THE DALE! [Post edited 5 Jun 20:20]
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| He has gone on 20:21 - Jun 5 with 8345 views | TalkingSutty |
| He has gone on 20:01 - Jun 5 by judd |
Emotion - pride and happiness. Moreso than a couple of weeks ago, Jim?
12 months as a player there.
He's gone, will probably dismantle the infrastructure at Dale. |
I hear you. Yes, he'll be back to try to do some cherry picking no doubt. It's why i dont get too attached to managers, i always feel as though they are on the lookout for their next job, no matter how much they pledge undying love for the club. It's the players we pay our entrance fee to watch, they are always the stars of the show, the entertainers. Appoint the right manager now and recruit well, we could be playing Stockport next season. | | | |
| He has gone on 20:24 - Jun 5 with 8298 views | D_Alien |
| He has gone on 20:21 - Jun 5 by TalkingSutty |
I hear you. Yes, he'll be back to try to do some cherry picking no doubt. It's why i dont get too attached to managers, i always feel as though they are on the lookout for their next job, no matter how much they pledge undying love for the club. It's the players we pay our entrance fee to watch, they are always the stars of the show, the entertainers. Appoint the right manager now and recruit well, we could be playing Stockport next season. |
That latter thought also occurred to me
It could be in L1 or L2... [Post edited 5 Jun 20:24]
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| He has gone on 20:27 - Jun 5 with 8246 views | Knowlesy |
| He has gone on 20:13 - Jun 5 by judd |
How do you know I haven't? Because I have.
How do you know Jim's terms?
He's gone. He got my appreciation at Wembley and the Town Hall. |
OK mate. I'm sure it makes you happy. I'm not saying you have to appreciate him at all, but it's a bit rich getting all snarky online cos somebody else got a new job. | | | |
| He has gone on 20:27 - Jun 5 with 8235 views | 442Dale |
| He has gone on 20:21 - Jun 5 by TalkingSutty |
I hear you. Yes, he'll be back to try to do some cherry picking no doubt. It's why i dont get too attached to managers, i always feel as though they are on the lookout for their next job, no matter how much they pledge undying love for the club. It's the players we pay our entrance fee to watch, they are always the stars of the show, the entertainers. Appoint the right manager now and recruit well, we could be playing Stockport next season. |
Very true. Hill, Parkin, Bergara, Dolan all did similar. Luckily Dolan took Chris Lee.
Would think some of the players may be reassessing their options now too, especially those who know they can also progress their careers with a move up the ladder. Not necessarily to Stockport either.
The other thing worth considering is that any staff who do remain after a manager leaves must know there’s a chance of any incoming boss bringing in his own team too.
It’s a reset for sure, but better we do it back in the League rather than after playoff final defeat. | |
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