Two out, hopefully two in at Spotland

Rochdale FC hope to sort out the futures of two of their loan players by offering them long term contracts to remain at Spotland. Rory McArdle and Glenn Murray look set to stay at the club for a further two seasons as it was agreed with their clubs at the time the loan deals were decided that they could be offered permanent contracts in January. Those deals are now in place and the players are expected to sign within the next two days. Meanwhile Keith Barker and Iyseden Christie have left the club.

McArdle joined Rochdale on loan from Sheffield Wednesday in November. This is his second spell at Spotland after he spent the second half of last season on loan before returning to the Owls in the summer. He played the first game of his second spell in the FA Cup first round replay at Hartlepool where Rochdale went out of the cup on penalties with the game goalless after extra time. Since then he has started every game and the Rochdale defence has kept four clean sheets during that time.

After a poor start to his short Rochdale career Glenn Murray has gone from strength to strength in recent games, meaning that his loan from Carlisle United will be made into a permanent deal. Murray made his debut in the disastrous 7-1 defeat at Lincoln having signed midway through October.

As Steve Parkin’s side continued to struggle Murray was regularly substituted as he suffered a lack of confidence in front of goal. He only managed one goal under Parkin, a header at Barnet, but since Keith Hill took over as Caretaker, Murray has flourished; scoring a goal in each of his last three games as his side gained a crucial seven point haul over the festive period.

Rochdale are also hoping to keep another of their loanees at the club by extending the loan of Frenchman William Mocquet from Sunderland. Club Secretary Colin Garlick will speak to Sunderland this week about the possibility of keeping the winger who has become a fans favourite during his short loan spell, exciting the crowd with his skillful displays.

He made his debut in the home win over Mansfield but like Murray, Mocquet’s best football has come under Keith Hill. After a man of the match display and a goal against Boston, he impressed again at Grimsby on New Years Day, prompting chants of ‘sign him up’ from the Dale fans when he was substituted late on in what they will hope was not his last appearance for the club.

Keith Barker departs Spotland after his loan from Blackburn Rovers ended this week. Barker has been an irregular feature in the team and has been left out of things under Keith Hill’s management. His last game came in the 1-0 defeat at Hartlepool three weeks ago. Barker made 16 first team appearances, scoring just the one goal against Crewe in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Iyseden Christie has joined Kidderminster Harriers permanently after a successful loan spell, which began in August after making a poor start to the season with Rochdale, prompting Steve Parkin to loan out the player. Dale paid the Harriers for the striker’s services last January after the club was forced to sell star man Grant Holt but he made just 20 appearances and only scored twice. He returns to his former team permanently having scored eight goals since his loan began.