Chris Dunlavy

ROCHDALE’S demise is sad to see, not least because their good sense and prudence has effectively led to relegation from the EFL. Dale are a fan-owned club with 550 shareholders, who fought off an attempted hostile takeover in 2021. Just seven miles up the road from Bury, the club and its supporters are all too aware what can happen when dubious investors seize a lower league club. They have tried, through player sales and cup runs, to remain self-sufficient and to run the club according to its means. As recently as March, they were named - alongside Crewe - a...