After a few days of rumours, speculation, tweets, insider knowledge,  and other related gossip, Dale manager Keith Hill has rejected a switch to Championship side Barnsley, preferring to remain at Spotland.

This was the news that all Dale fans were hoping to hear but secretly never expected to come through, that being that Dale manager Keith Hill had opted to remain as manager of Rochdale.

Whilst there were rumours of discontent at the contract length or how many members of the backroom staff he could take with him, it was clear that Keith Hill did not consider this to be the right move for him and Flitcroft, and as such they could not be tempted away from Spotland.

In rejecting the move, Hill told the BBC: "We work for good people, we've created a very good team, we work in an excellent environment and it will be difficult to leave if and when the right opportunity presents itself."

In remaining with Rochdale, Keith Hill will remain the 11th longest serving manager in the Football League, and the fifth longest serving manager at Rochdale in the club's history.

Of course, Keith Hill will continue to be linked with jobs elsewhere, but it's worth remembering that there is a reason why Keith Hill is linked with other jobs, whilst the likes of Paul Simpson, Graham Barrow etc never were.

Photo: Action Images

daledean added 21:11 - May 24 Big sigh of relief there, I'll admit it's a surprise cos it felt like he was going and surely one day he will and I'm sure we'll all wish him well when he does, but for now lets look forward to next season
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SFD added 12:42 - May 25 Glad he is staying but feel it is because Barnsley cant afford to pay off all their staff and compensate us for ours along with taking on them all, if Hilly had been out of contract he would be gone for sure.
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milligan17 added 14:06 - May 25 Never though he would go. Mark Robins left due to clubs' lack of financial backing and ambition. Ambition is a word Hilly always seems to use, not the kind of bloke to jump at first chance of managing 'just anyone' in the Championship. And thank God he is an intelligent man, it's inevitable he'll leave us one day but he deserves a crack at a club which can match his ambitions for the top. Hopefully no time soon though!

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macro added 21:01 - May 25 Tranmere, Barnsley eventually the day will come so I for one will enjoy the time he's at the club
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R17ALE added 23:53 - May 26 He has done the right thing for his career in staying. If he continues at Rochdale in the same manner and continues to over achieve, then eventually the right oppotunity will come for him to take over a big Championship club who have Premiership pedigree. The likes of Leeds, Birmingham, Blackburn or Wolves if those two drop, which they will one day. If he had gone to Barnsley he would have had to have done a "Rochdale" all over again with the "Rochdale" of the Championship (Barnsley are fooking nobodies!) just to get a crack at a club like Middlesbrough or Forest. Continue to improve Rochdale and his next move will be life changing and deservedly so. A season of mid table at Barnsley and he'd probably be sacked! SFD is spot on with his assessment that Barnsley didn't want the Hill circus as they can't afford it. They just wanted Hillcroft as cheap as possible. So they got told to do one. And then they try to poach Slade from Orient. Which other club will they ride rough shod over next? Bunch of tossers imho. Do what we did and look for new talent.

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geraldo added 17:30 - May 31 Is everyone out there asleep?? Hill has done a U- Turn - so much for "the time isn't right" what he meant was " the money wasn't right" according to the Yorkshire Post Hill accepted an improved offer.
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