Down in Albion

Just when we thought that deadline day had come and past, the news broke at beyond the 11th hour that Jamie Allen had signed for Burton Albion.

There'd been plenty of whispers over the past week that there was a Championship club who had submitted a bid for Allen, and the late nature of the transfer would suggest that the "undisclosed" deal was in excess of the £400,000 that was talked about last weekend, before we start on the usual Dale add ons.

In joining Burton, Allen will make that now familiar route from Dale to the Championship and will team up alongside Matty Lund with whom he enjoyed shared three seasons and a promotion from his time with Dale.

It brings to an end a Dale career for Allen who had in many ways, Allen had become the poster boy of the club. Having joined the school of excellence at eight years old, he'd been here playing at every level possible through to captaining the side. Arguably, he'd been due a testimonial whilst still a teenager, but Allen was living proof of everything that the club is trying to do both in terms of community and first team.

The transfer will provide an opportunity for a number of players. Deadline day recruit Jamie Williams may be the one given that first chance to replace Allen, but we have a number of young midfielders at the club in the form of Andy Cannon, Aaron Morley and Daniel Adshead who may all be given that opportunity at some stage to stake a claim.

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