Four players released by Dale

Rochdale AFC Logo

Rochdale have released one senior professional and three youngsters from their contracts on the third day of the January transer window. Callum Warburton, Kristian Bowden and Kyle Buckley have been released from their short-term contracts, which were given to them when they turned pro at the start of the season. Rory Prendergast has been released after the club announced they would not be renewing his contract when it expires on 21 January.

Prendergast has been on the fringes of the first team this season but has found starts on the left wing hard to come by because of the form of Adam Rundle. His last appearance was as an 88th minute substitute during Dale's Boxing Day visit to Wrexham. He has made 18 appearances this season but all but three of them came from the substitutes bench. He has scored three goals for Rochdale this term including a late equaliser at Darlington, the club with whom he spent the back end of last season on loan.

The news may still come as something of a surprise to Dale fans as he has impressed in some of his cameos, not least when he scored when coming off the bench to help Dale knock Stoke city out of the Carling Cup earlier this season.

The winger made an instant impact when Rochdale signed him last January, scoring on debut in the 5-0 rout of MK Dons at Spotland.

The three youngsters that have been released alongside Prendergast worked their way through the ranks at Spotland but have failed to break into the first team squad since turning professional. Warburton has spent three months on loan with Kendall Town, while Buckley was recently on loan with Woodley Sports.

Rochdale will continue to work with Bowden as he requires surgery on a hip injury and he may be reconsidered for a contract when he has recovered.