Opening opponents in upbeat mood

03 August 2012 07:37
Rochdale manager John Coleman believes his side have emerged from the shadows of last season

'Dale, who host Northampton on the opening day of the 2012/13 season, are back in League Two after a difficult campaign in which the appointment of former Accrington Stanley manager Coleman came too late to salvage.

After a summer of rebuilding however he told the Manchester Evening News: "The atmosphere is totally different.

"Towards the end of the season it was hard, especially when we were relegated and we still had to play games.

"There was a lot of doom and gloom but now it’s like chalk and cheese. Everyone and everything is positive and can’t wait for the season to start."

Aidy Boothroyd, while pleased with his side's preparations, has attempted to play down expectations after seeing the side he inherited only avoid relegation in the latter stages of last season.

“If you look at our past five years it wouldn’t exactly fill anybody with hope so I don’t think we should be getting over-excited,” he said recently.

“If we did better than we did last year then everybody would be pleased but because there are no games at this time of the year we’re all unbeaten, aren’t we? And we all think we’ve got a chance."

Source: FOOTYMAD