 He began the 1998–99 season as a regular member of the first team but dropped to the bench at the beginning of October and drifted out of the first team picture in mid-December.In January 1999, he attracted the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner but a proposed loan move was thwarted by Bailey sustaining a minor hamstring injury.He managed to break back into the Rochdale team in March 1999, making his first league start in nearly four months in the 0–0 home draw with Barnet on 20 March 1999.