Rochdale become first club of 2022/23 season to sack their manager

Rochdale become the first club of the 2022/23 season to sack their manager having lost all of their games and sit bottom of the table.

The Dale have parted company with manager Robbie Stockdale after 13 months with the Spotland outfit.

They have lost all four of their League Two fixtures so far this campaign and are bottom of the fourth tier. The 42-year-old was appointed by Dale in July 2021 and leaves the club along with his assistant Jimmy Shan.

They said in a very brief statement: “Rochdale Football Club have today parted company with Robbie Stockdale and Jimmy Shan.

“The board would like to place on record its thanks to Robbie and Jimmy, and wish them every success in the future.

Stockdale said he understands fan frustration around his side’s poor start to the season.

Dale’s loss to Stevenage on Tuesday was their fourth League Two defeat from four games this season, with their only win coming against Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup on 9 August.

Carl Piergianni scored the only goal as Rochdale slipped to another defeat.

“We should be sat on a few points. But we’re not, so I get it. But it’s a brand new team,” he said.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, he continued: “The overriding message is, try and stick with the players, that’s the most important thing because we have got some players in there that need the help.”

“There are a lot of positives,” Stockdale added.

“I know it doesn’t look like that now, but there are. The biggest thing from me to the players is they have got to believe in themselves and I’ll make sure I put that belief into them.

“For the majority of the game against Grimsby and the second half against Stevenage, we were all right, and that’s the message from me. We’ve got to keep believing in the things we’re doing because that’s how it will turn.

“If we come away from that, that’s when there’s muddled messages. It’s not an easy job.”

Fans have reacted as Rochdale become first the club of the 2022/23 season to sack their manager…

@alfiebowden4: 😍😍😍 what a day

@djjackirhodes: About time 🍿🙌🏻

@Feeney1992x: Wish them all the best & thanks for keeping us in the football league last season under the circumstances they faced!

@Callumrafc16: Thank you!!!!!

@chrisjbaines22: wish them the best of luck in the future! made some really good signings and we had our moments!

@Ben_m_1234: Yes! Fresh start now! Best wishes to them both for the future. Time to hit the ground running UTD!

@alex_scunny: I know a fella lads

@StigStrand: Congrats to the board for making a very tough decision. Thanks Robbie lovely lad but not cut out for this level

@staceycliffe8: Wish them both all the best, now let’s get this season started Saturday!

@azzafergy99: Thank you for the effort. Shame it didn’t work. But time to move on and kick start the season now

@ChrisDWhatmough: Right decision. Huge thanks to Robbie and Jimmy who worked hard to keep us in the EFL last season. Best of luck guys

@anthonybritland: Best wishes to Robbie. Really nice guy. Just wasn’t meant to be. Hopefully kick on now with the season now. 🔵

@FootballMyerp: Right decision. Good luck with the future Robbie, shame it didn’t work out

@MEBaines: Really disappointed it didn’t work out but not sure there was any other option given the circumstances 😕

@TheSandyLaner1: Hate people being sacked. All the best for the future Robbie, you gave it your best shot. I’ve absolutely no doubt you will be snapped up as an academy manager/ coach. Maybe in a few years try first team management again. Thanks for your efforts.

@kieronRAFC: Fucking cmon

@AllDaleArentWe: Needed desperately, might be a good coach but it’s clear to see it wasn’t working. Wish him all the best in his future endeavour but we as a club couldn’t allow things to continue the way they have. Hopefully our season actually kick starts now UP THE DALE ⚽️🔵

@NickLoughIin: First sacking of the season – it’s taken all of two and a half weeks into the campaign

@Gingerzola: A bloke who we left in charge of us at an absolutely critical fork in the road let go as Rochdale assistant

@MIGreenhalgh: All the best to RS and JS. Thought they would have been given more time this season with the new squad. Fan pressure seems to have won. Now we have to find a new manager to work with a squad put together by someone else.

@DP_OverTheBar: Take no joy in reading this. Stockdale came across like a very likeable bloke but it’s a results based business and results and performances have not been good enough. The next appointment is massive. #RAFC

@JohnTondeur: Sorry to see this. Robbie’s team played really well against #gtfc – a club who’ve shown recently that if you stick with a manager through a difficult run, it often brings rewards

@RochdaleFan: It’s sad that it has to come to this, but it just had to happen. Results was abysmal. Performances dire. It’s crucial that we get our next appointment correct now. #RAFC

@Jamesfletcher82: Can’t profess to been an expert on them but never get why owners do this, give a manager a budget to shape a squad over a summer then sack him after 4 games. New bloke will come in with probably no budget and someone else’s players, be surprised if this doesn’t end in relegation

@RyanwFWA: Unsurprising but I thought they’d want to get through the double game week first.

@19brownie93Az: Wish him all the best, don’t think abuse is needed, looking forward to see who we bring in next to kick start our season. 🙏🙏 Please play 4 at the back.

@rhysclough: My very best wishes go out to Stockdale. He came in to the club when we were on our knees off the pitch, but for various, it just hasn’t worked out. A decent bloke, but it’s about time we start putting results first in front of being a nice club. #RAFC

@oggypart3: Probably the right decision all around. Shame for Robbie as he came across as a genuine fella unlike the previous manager, but inevitably his tactics and inability to change when needed proved his downfall. Not got a clue who you would bring in at the moment?

@mattrhodes1987: Sad that it’s come to this, as Robbie is clearly a gentlemen who really cared, but the right decision. Absolutely essential everyone pulls together – season is still entirely in our control.

@Melsha87: Needed to be done, thank you for keeping us up last season but there is no plan B in performances, no imagination on how we play. Been figured out, change was needed #UTD