Hill Makes Spotland Return

Last updated : 22 January 2013 By Alastair Limb (tykesmad)

Sacked Barnsley boss Keith Hill has returned to the club he joined the Reds from, after being reappointed as Rochdale boss earlier today.

Hill, who was sacked by Barnsley on December 29th after seeing the Reds fall to the bottom of the Championship, has signed a deal until the end of the season with Dale.

He achieved great success with the Lancashire club in his five year spell between 2006 and 2011, overseeing Dale's first promotion in forty years, before jumping up to the Championship with the Reds.

And after a positive start with Barnsley, guiding them to 8th in December last year, things soon started to go downhill, with the Reds only avoiding relegation down to Portsmouth being deducted ten points for entering administration and then a wretched first half of this campaign, which caused his sacking after the 3-1 home reverse to Blackburn Rovers.

He told Rochdale's official site:

"When the club approached me about coming back to Spotland, I didn't hesitate.

"Rochdale Football Club will, and always will remain dear to me, and to be honest it was a no-brainer.

"I'll be here until the end of the season and we will take stock of the situation then.

"Until then we have an 18-game season to think about, to plan and to achieve so that's what I, the players and staff will be doing.

"We also need the fans to get behind us and give us all their support. That is crucial if we are going to go forward. I'm delighted to be back and cannot wait to get started."