Having spent a over 30 years in the wilderness of the League's 4th tier, Keith Hill guided Rochdale to the 3rd tier in English football last season.
On the step up, manager Eddie Howe is quoted as saying on his Rochdale counterpart: "Keith Hill has done a great job there – there’s no denying that. What he’s achieved at Rochdale is fantastic. He’s outspoken but that’s how he works and it can have an effect where you have a little battle between the two of you, but that’s football. That makes it exciting and there’s a good rivalry and we’re keen to go there and get a positive result. I have a lot of respect for the job he has done there. He has worked miracles really and he’s got his team playing really good football, as well".