The 2011-12 campaign delivered heartbreak for Rochdale as The Dale finished a crushing 24th in League One, resulting in relegation to the fourth tier after two seasons. The year was defined by severe managerial turmoil and instability, with a turbulent period seeing two managers sacked during the course of the season. Leading the charge for goals was Ashley Grimes, whose 8 league goals proved vital in a desperate, but ultimately unsuccessful, fight to avoid the drop. It was a painful and defining chapter of the club's modern history.