ROCHDALE kickstart a third successive tilt at promotion tomorrow when Keith Hill’s squad jet out to Marbella for an intense week of warm weather training.

The players reported back at Spotland on Wednesday when Hill and his management team ran through the pre-season schedule and outlined their aims and ambitions for the 2009/10 campaign.

"We head off early Sunday morning with 18 players plus two scholars," said Hill. "In the last couple of years, our pre-season trip to Spain has proved invaluable in terms of longevity.

"The thing we need to address is how we start the season. We have made disappointing starts in the last two years and we are looking at how we can change that.

"Our pre-season training and matches have gone very well, but we’ve not been at our best when it counts, we’ve tended to warm into the season. It is a concern and something we’re working on, but we do have a solid squad and one that can stand the course of the season."

Unlike previous years, Dale will include any triallists for the trip.

"We’ve no triallists coming with us to Marbella, but we have one or two in the pipeline who we may have a look at when we get back.

"We don’t have a particular interest in anyone specifically, but a couple of names have been thrown our way and it may be worth our while taking a look at them.

"The balance of the squad is very good, but it’s not deep enough and there are a couple of areas we could look to strengthen.

"Finances will determine that, but I’d like to get a couple more left-footed players into the squad, perhaps a midfielder and a striker.

"We’re never going to compete on an even financial keel as some other clubs in the division, that’s not criticism of the chairman or the board, that’s just recognising our standing. But if we get the chance to strengthen, we will."

On the subject of recruitment, Hill hit back at suggestions he needed to strengthen the central defence.

"People tend to get ahead of themselves and I’ve touched on the lack of patience before," he said.

"I think we all need to reflect on where we were two and a half years ago and look where we’re at now.

"It seems some people are of the opinion that winning a place in the play-offs is not good enough for this club. I disagree – when you consider the club’s history, reaching the play-offs two years running represents success.

"I have 100 per cent faith in the central defenders at this club. Last season was a massive learning curve for us and we did make mistakes at the back.

"I think the way we tried to play made us look vulnerable at times and next season we may have to look at changing our style to remedy that.

"Rory McArdle is a Championship player in the making – he shouldn’t be lambasted on message boards the way he has been.

"He will play in the Championship, just like Clive Platt – and he was lambasted when he was at Rochdale!

"If supporters or message board managers want to be proper, real life managers, then I suggest they get in touch with the FA and start taking their coaching badges.

"I feel I’m doing a good job here – I make the decisions and my success as manager of this club is determined by the decisions I make."