By Pete Oliver

Former defender Hill spent the best part of his playing days at Dale

Rochdale's temporary boss Keith Hill will have the chance to stake his claim to replace Steve Parkin at the helm, says general manager Colin Garlick.

Dale have already received a number of applications for the vacancy.

Garlick told BBC Sport: "We have got one eye on that situation, but Keith has got possession and hopefully he can make it a tough decision for the board.

"If he does that everyone will be delighted because it will mean the team is doing well."

Early names linked with the Spotland job include Andy Ritchie, Brian Horton, Ian Atkins and Kevin Reeves.

But Rochdale will kick-off their festive programme with their former youth-team coach at the helm for a spell of games Garlick understatedly describes as "important".

"It's a busy period with the games coming thick and fast," he added.

"It's of paramount importance to keep our League status. It's the place to be as a club and we are no different."

To that end, the board faces a crucial decision in finding the right replacement for Parkin, who lost his job last weekend following a seventh defeat in eight league games.

Parkin had previously been one of Dale's most effective managers in his two spells in charge but with the threat of Conference football looming the 41-year-old ran out of time.

"Everyone is judged on results. Steve knows that and he understands the game," Garlick said.

We believe we can compete in this division and we can turn a corner Colin Garlick

"The results have not been what we wanted. Overall the performances have probably warranted better results but you can't get away from the position we find ourselves in.

"That was really what brought matters to a head."

Rochdale hope that a clean slate will now bring a more united front from their supporters, who had been increasingly divided in their backing for Parkin.

"Football is about opinions. I am sure even Sir Alex Ferguson has critics, but at our level when you get a situation where you have people who support the manager and some who are less supportive you can detect that," Garlick added.

"What has subsequently been disappointing for me - and you can't ignore the messageboards - is that you had some people looking for people to go.

"And when that decision was made you would like to think that some people would take it more gracefully, rather than rub salt into the wounds.

"That disappoints me a bit but the important thing now is that everybody gets behind the team and gives Keith all the support they can and also get behind the players, because I'm sure they do detect it if things aren't right."

Things have not been right for much of a season which kicked off with four successive 1-0 defeats.

Parkin was not able to attract all the players he wanted during the summer and saw striker Ricky Lambert leave for Bristol Rovers at the end of August.

He did manage to engineer a run of just one defeat in 11 games which had lifted Dale up to mid-table by the middle of October.

KEITH HILL'S CLUBS Born: 17 May 1969 1987-92: Blackburn 1992-96: Plymouth 1996-2001: Rochdale 2001-02: Cheltenham 2001: Wrexham (loan) 2002-03: Morecambe

But unfortunately for Parkin the momentum was not maintained and Dale are now looking for a change of direction with their 32-year membership of the basement division threatened with an exit from the bottom rather than the top.

"Everyone starts a new season with optimism," Garlick added.

"If we are honest we are all looking to win leagues, get promoted or play-off places but the first mark is really 50 points and then looking to build on that.

"It has not worked out as we would have liked, but we live to fight another day.

"The division is tight and anyone can beat anyone. We have won away from home 5-0 and lost away from home 7-1, which are the two extremes.

"We believe we can compete in this division and we can turn a corner."

But with only goal difference keeping Dale out of the drop-zone whoever does become the club's seventh manager in as many years faces a difficult task.

However, with half a season to go and the January transfer-window poised to open, it appears far from a lost cause.

"We have to work hard for every pound. We are not rolling in it but we would like to think that thanks to good management we are in a good position," Garlick added.

"Most clubs owe a lot of money but thankfully we are not in that position.

"Either Keith or the new manager has got some flexibility with the playing squad. There are loans up and players out of contract at the end of the year so there is room for movement.

"And if the right player is available at the right price we would look at that in trying to achieve our first goal."