'Dale fly to Spain

Rochdale AFC latest news

The players and coaching staff of Rochdale AFC have flown out to their pre-season training camp in Spain today (Thursday 8 July).

The now annual trip comes as the club steps up their preparations for their first season out of League 2 in 41 years.

Boarding the plane with the rest of the squad will be new signing Jean-Louis Akpro Akpa who signed for the club yesterday following weeks of speculation and reports of him training with the team.

The 5 foot 11 frontman completed his two-year deal after rejecting a new contract from his former employers, Grimsby Town, following their relegation to the conference last season.

The capture of the Toulouse born striker has excited ‘Dale fans after a string of impressive performances last season in a struggling Mariners side and is seen as an ideal replacement for Chris Dagnall, who left the club at the start of this month to join Championship side Scunthorpe United.

Notable absentees not checking in this morning include, the before mentioned striker, Chris Dagnall, fellow forward/winger Kallum Higginbotham, centre backs Nathan Stanton and Rory McArdle and left-back Tom Kennedy who all left on free transfers earlier this month.

However, Keith Hill and his men have worked hard in the transfer market to find replacements. Hill has so far secured the signings of Midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy from Bury, former West Ham trainee Joe Widdowson, 19-year-old striker Jack Redshaw and this week announced the capture of Scunthorpe Goalkeeper Josh Lillis on a six-month loan deal and Striker Jean-Louis Akpro Akpa.