ROCHDALE HORNETS are staying positive about the new merged Championship competition, despite the quirks of the fixture format.
Hornets start the season with a trip to Swinton on Sunday, January 18 and finish it with a home derby against Oldham on Sunday, August 30.
After their opener, they play ten home games in twelve, before a run of nine away matches in ten through June, July and August, when work on a Crown Oil Arena pitch which is currently being relaid is scheduled.
Chairman Andy Mazey explained: “The general feeling around our club now the fixtures have been confirmed and released is of excitement.
“While not playing at home during June and July is obviously not ideal, we can only control the controllables and therefore have taken a glass-half-full and longer-term view on the new league format, our fixtures and the pitch refurbishment situation.
“We are not the only ones who groundshare with a football club or other sporting organisation and therefore not the only ones who will have an extended period away from home.”
After six seasons in League One, the merger with the Championship looked like opening the door to games against the likes of Widnes and Halifax, which have typically drawn some of the biggest crowds to the Crown Oil Arena, but neither of those clubs feature in Rochdale’s list.
Mazey added: “While the pendulum system the RFL have subsequently opted for since the merger was confirmed hasn’t quite thrown up as many local games as we would have liked, we have got our heads down and are getting on with it and are much more comfortable with where we are now.
“This structure gives ambitious and progressive, but sensible and sustainably-run clubs like ours the opportunity to build and progress in the medium to long term.
“We have a lot of early home games which means our supporters can look forward to plenty of action and be the difference and hopefully help us get off to a solid start.
“Overall we are positive and excited about the season ahead.”