According to the Observer twitter feed, Dale are to announce eight signings on Monday - some we already knew about, some that were heavily rumoured and one from out of nowhere. We bring you the low down on all eight.
The eight signings are Josh Lillis, Kevin McIntyre, George Donnelly, Rhys Bennett, Ryan Edwards, Phil Edwards, Peter Cavanagh and Joe Rafferty.
| Goalkeeper Josh Lillis signed a two year contract from Scunthorpe United who will need no introduction to Dale fans following his two previous loan spells at the club. So no more introduction then. | |
| McIntyre is a vastly experienced left back who joins the club on a free transfer from Accrington Stanley after a career which took in stops at Chester, Macclesfield, Tranmere, Doncaster and Shrewsbury. Considered to be solid and reliable every where he has played, he has chalked up over five hundred professional appearances, and once scored a winning goal in the Play Offs which stopped Bury getting to Wembley. | |
| Striker George Donnelly has joined the club for an undisclosed fee from recently relegated Macclesfield Town. Noted for his pace, he has been around the fringes of the Football League for a couple of years after spells with Fleetwood, Stockport and Plymouth Argyle. Commanded a fee of £50,000 once, it is believed that he comes to Spotland for substantially less than that after being pursued by John Coleman for quite some time. | |
| Ryan Edwards is a very highly rated central defender who is expected to join the club on loan from Blackburn Rovers on Monday. Dale boss John Coleman has tried in vain to make the switch a permanent one but it seems we will have to make do with a temporary deal. Edwards was captain of the Rovers Youth side that made it through to the FA Youth Cup Final last season. He is still only 18 and by all accounts was the star performer in that Rovers youth team which resulted in him being awarded a two year deal at Ewood Park. | |
| Phil Edwards is another who comes to Spotland for a second spell at the club. He came on loan from Stevenage initially in what was an ultimately disappointing spell that was hit by injury, but he's worked with John Coleman for many years after impressing under him at Accrington Stanley where Edwards chalked up over 250 appearances. Edwards is equally competent playing in both defence and in midfield, and was once described as being three inches away from being a Premier League player by a certain Scouse manager. | |
| Bennett is another long term target for John Coleman who eventually got his man when he snapped him on a twelve month contract. The 6'3 central defender spent last season on loan at Scottish First Division side Falkirk, and by all accounts they'd have been keen to make that move a permanent one. As the picture indiciates, Bennett has come through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers and has previously captained their reserve side, though he never made it into the first team at the Reebok Stadium. | |
| Looking at Cavanagh's career, it is no surprise that he comes to Spotland having been Coleman's right hand man on the pitch for many years at Accrington. The 30 year old right back was part of the Fleetwood side that won promotion to the Football League last season having previously left Accy. It is widely expected that Cavanagh will take the captain's armband at Spotland this next season. | |
| Out of all the signings that were announced via Twitter, Rafferty was perhaps the one surprise name to be mentioned. Rafferty was recently released by Liverpool having captained their U-18 side last season. He has mostly been used as a central defender, but can be used as a right back as well. Rafferty went to the same school as former Dale loanee Stephen Darby. (pic c/o http://liverpoolfc.wikia.com/) |