Simon Gauge: Rochdale chairman says club are 'one of the best investments in football'

Rochdale chairman Simon Gauge has put £566,000 into the club in recent months

Rochdale chairman Simon Gauge says the club are one of the "best investments in football" despite the National League club's financial plight.

Gauge previously warned Dale face the prospect of liquidation and need £2m of investment for 90% of the club.

An Extraordinary General Meeting has now been called for Thursday, 7 March

"We'll issue another nine million shares in the club which allows someone to come in and spend £2m," Gauge told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I think pound for pound that is one of the best investments in football. We own our own stadium, we don't have massive debt, we run as close to sustainably as many clubs.

"That allows them to come in and buy 90% of the club and put £2m of cash into the club instantly."

Any change of share structure will need to be agreed upon at the EGM, however Gauge - who has put in £566,000 in the past few months to keep Dale going - and the local council are both willing to negotiate a deal with any potential investor with regards to any outstanding debt.

Despite the urgency of their situation, Gauge is positive about the club's immediate future.

"We need to draw a line in the sand and get something completed by the end of March," he said.

"So far all the indications are that things are starting to move now and you can be cautiously optimistic that if we can share the change of share structure at the EGM, that the future of the club will be secured."