AT LAST! HILL CAN UNRAVEL TRICKY KNOTT...
THEY say the thrill is in the chase, never in the capture, but, after making it fourth time lucky, Keith Hill is confident the relationship between Billy Knott and Rochdale will be a fruitful one.
Midfielder Knott will step up a division after joining on loan from League Two Lincoln but will need to make an instant impact to help his new club avoid a drop into the fourth tier themselves. Dale were six points adrift of League One safety before the weekend.
Hill is excited to see exactly what the 25-year-old can offer as a creative lynchpin after a trio of previous failures when trying to bring him on board.
“I’ve chased him three times in the past and missed out on all three occasions, so I almost gave up!” smiled Hill.
“Billy can open doors and he can be the link between defence and attack.
“He can put the ball on a sixpence and he can also be quite creative.
“He has got to integrate quickly and he could be fitter for the way we play, but those are the demands I put on all of our players.
“That hasn’t changed in the three years since I first engaged in conversation with Billy about why I thought he should join the football club.
“And I think he has regretted maybe not joining us in the past.”
And, while Hill may be slightly sceptical about Knott’s fitness, the ex-Bradford man is convinced he will suit Rochdale perfectly.
“I’m buzzing” said Knott after signing.
“I’ve seen the way the gaffer plays football, his style of play, and it suits me.
“My last few moves probably haven’t been to passing teams, so I’m like a little kid again.
“I can’t wait to get passing the ball, moving it quickly and making movements off the ball.”