Rochdale name ex-Hartlepool United chief executive and Men United March hero Russ Green as CEO

The former Pools stalwart has been appointed as chief executive at League One club Rochdale.

Green quit as Pools CEO in the middle of last month, having said that he felt it was “the right time” to leave Victoria Park after 14 years of service at the club.

The Men United charity walk hero is now back after a short break, taking over at Spotland from outgoing chief executive Colin Garlick, who is joining Port Vale.

Russ told the Rochdale website: “I’ve always admired Rochdale.

“I think the way the board run the club on the resources they have is absolutely fantastic.

“After speaking to the chairman and the directors, I feel as though we can now take the club to another level.

“In any industry you’ve got to have an ambition and the ambition of this football club is to build the infrastructure to obtain Championship football.”

Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy said he sees Green as the man to help Dale with their dream of playing in the Championship.

“I was aware that Russ was available after having stepped down from his role at Hartlepool, so when Colin informed the board of his intention to leave, Russ was, without a doubt, a stand-out candidate.

“Russ joins us at a very important time for the club.

“We’re now in a position where we can strive to set up an infrastructure to start laying the foundations for Championship football, and I believe Russ is the ideal person to lead the club forward.”

Russ joined Pools in 2002 as commercial manager and was appointed chief executive five years later.

He was a key figure in the IOR years at Pools, none more so than when the owners pulled out of a proposed sale to The Monkey Hangers 2014 .

Green was twice chief executive of the year and back in the spring walked all the way from the Vic to Wembley with Pools president Jeff Stelling on the Men United March.

More than £300,000 was raised for Prostate Cancer UK as well as raising awareness about the disease.