Rochdale boss Keith Hill has hailed skipper Gary Jones as the key figure in his side as they aim to make it third time lucky in the race for promotion next season.

The Spotland outfit have not won a promotion since 1969 and have lost in the League Two play-offs in the last two seasons.

They head into new campaign boosted by Jones' recent decision to put pen-to-paper on a two-year contract extension.

Hill said: "He is integral to what we are doing here, a vital part of the machine. In fact he is the machine.

"Personally I cannot give him enough credit for the way he conducted himself over this and the attitude he takes into training and onto the pitch.

"Every league club would like a Gary Jones, there is no doubt about that, and we are very pleased he is with us."