[Greyfriars Bobby]

4 July 2014

Paul Sanderson returned to Rochdale from Brazil rested, tanned (although it was autumn there) and ready for the start of the 2014-2015 campaign. The players returned to Spotland Stadium on the 1st, minus a few lads who had moved on.

Most notable among them was left back Mike Staley, who made 29 appearances for the Dale last season. Staley was 31, and while he was a good player, Sanderson believed he could find one nearly as good for half as much money as Staley earned. Mike signed with York City (Royal First Division) who were happy to pay him £1,100 a week.

Andy Barron was gone, too, and Sanderson justified the decision to let him go on the same terms. He'd made only eight appearances last year, and £1,200/week was far too much to pay a 28-year-old player for that amount of first team football. That's how much Luton Town, another Royal First Division club, was going to pay Andy this season.

Luis Cassama, who featured 11 times on Rochdale's back line, moved up a level and signed with Port Vale. Lee Mason, whose tenure as Rochdale captain ended when he, alone among his team, challenged his manager's goals for the upcoming season, wasn't resigned either. Between them, Mason and Cassama earned nearly £1,900 last year.

Sanderson had already used some of that money to bring in reinforcements for his defense. He'd had his eye on center back Jamie Bennett, whom he knew about through his Everton connections. Bennett, now 19, spent last season on loan at Swindon Town, where he made 20 appearances. Everton let him go on a free, and Sanderson quickly signed him to a two-year contract on £650/week. Right now, Bennett would provide cover for Andy Carr and Graham Somers, but his potential guaranteed he'd get plenty of playing time.

Even younger than Bennett, and potentially even more talented, midfielder Max McKenzie joined the club after Blackburn Rovers let him go. Max was best at AM(C), a position Paul hadn't used very often. "I might think about it now," the gaffer said with a smile. At £230/week, McKenzie might be the bargain of the year.

The Dale's third signing was more than twice as old as McKenzie. He was Jack McGrath, who would be coming on board as a player/reserves manager. He had served as player/manager at Notts County the season before, and Paul was shocked to see him sacked after he led the Magpies to an eighth place finish in the Royal Premier League.

Jack, 36, appeared 31 times in the central midfield for Notts County and, although he had lost some pace, his understanding of the game and his technical skill were superb. Paul quickly offered him a contract at £650/week, and Jack accepted it with a smile.

With McGrath on board, Paul felt much more comfortable accepting the transfer offer he'd been made for Kyle Radcliffe, whom Glentoran, a Championship side, had been coveting. "It was going to take a lot of money to persuade us to let Kyle go, and Glentoran offered us £300,000. Kyle is only 22, and I'm taking a chance that our staff is right when they say he's about as good as he's going to get. If we're right, then we're getting a great deal for him."

The board had approved a wage budget of £34,344 a week, and a transfer budget of £156,000. For that expenditure, they expected Sanderson to build a team that could contend for a league title.

"That's an ambitious goal, but I'm ready to take it on," said the manager.

Meanwhile, England continued on in the World Cup. They won their group with two wins and a draw, and saw off Uruguay, 2-1, in the Second Round, earning a quarterfinal match with Croatia. The biggest surprise of group play was Cameroon, who emerged from the Group of Death...eliminating Cup holders Spain in the process. Les Lions Indomptables lost to Russia, 1-0, in the Second Round, but their story was still compelling.

"I wish we could have stayed and watched England play," confessed Paul. "I know Leanne was enjoying the beach, too. She's got the tan to prove it," he added, with a sly wink.