Brian Barry-Murphy appointed manager at Rochdale

Rochdale have appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as their new manager on a two-year contract.

Barry-Murphy had been caretaker manager of the League One side since Keith Hill and his assistant Chris Beech were sacked by the club at the beginning of March.

Since then, Rochdale are unbeaten in their last four games, having defeated Shrewsbury Town and Scunthorpe United and drawn against both Oxford United and Gillingham.

Those results leave Rochdale sitting in 23rd place in the league, one place above bottom placed Bradford, with a game in hand on most of their rivals.

However, they are one of four teams on 42 points, and have a game on hand on those other three teams, Southend, Walsall and AFC Wimbledon and are just a point away from leaving the drop zone.

Barry-Murphy will be joined by Lee Riley while Tony Ellis will continue in a dual role of Academy Manager and First Team Matchday Observational Coach.

The 40-year-old Cork native, who is the son of GAA legend Jimmy Barry-Murphy, will have a backroom team that includes Steve Collis, Callum Jones, Ross Jones and Andy Thorpe.

Barry-Murphy played for Cork City in the 1990s, begore moving to England where he has played for clubs including Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Bury and Rochdale.

“Brian Barry-Murphy is, without doubt, the right person to take Rochdale forward,” Chairman Andrew Kilpatrick told the club’s official website.

“He is young, hungry for success and extremely talented. Brian is held in the highest regard by everyone at RAFC and in the wider football business. 

“As a Club, we have been overwhelmed by the number of calls that we have received from people within the industry who have had nothing but the highest praise for him.

“As has been apparent from his four games in temporary charge, the squad are fully behind Brian and this has been fully reflected in their commitment and performance on the pitch,” Kilpatrick said.

“This appointment is singularly well-merited and, we hope, ushers in a new and exciting chapter for Rochdale AFC.

“We have seven vital games remaining this season. I hope that everyone will get behind Brian and the team, giving them our full support for the rest of the campaign and beyond,” he said.