Striker's contract terminated

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Lee McEvilly

Lee McEvilly has left Rochdale after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, bringing his third spell at the club to an end.

McEvilly had a year to run on his contract but he was placed on the transfer list last week and now the striker has left the club after Keith Hill told him that he was not a part of his plans for next season.

The big striker spent the latter part of the season on loan at Barrow and did not feature in Dale's play-off semi-final against Gillingham.

The 26-year old joined Dale in November but has not been a regular in the side since joining the club for the third time.

The highlight of his third spell came on Boxing Day when he came off the bench to single-handedly bring Dale from a goal behind to beat Shrewsbury. He made a total of 16 appearances since signing from Cambridge in November, scoring five goals.

The 26-year old made the step into league football by signing for Dale from Burscough in December 2001. He scored 27 goals in his three year stay before moving to Accrington Stanley in 2004. He returned to the Rochdale ranks in the 2007/2008 season, on loan from Stanley, scoring three goals in seven appearances.