Loan deal could lead to new arrival

ATHLETIC forward Deane Smalley has joined Rochdale on a month-long loan deal in a move which could lead to a new arrival at Boundary Park.

With a bloated squad and four players — Joe Jacobson, Jon Worthington, Rob Purdie and Greg Fleming — on the transfer list, Athletic manager Paul Dickov needs to get players off the wage bill to make room for new recruits.

Smalley goes straight into the Rochdale squad to face Plymouth tomorrow.

Chief Executive Alan Hardy said: “The departure of Deane may open the door for a player to join us on loan.

“The manager thought Deane would benefit from regular football.”

Dickov has openly admitted he would like to add to the squad if he could farm someone out, though he doesn’t want to upset the momentum built up by the current batch of players.

He said: “There have been enquiries for a few players,” Dickov said.

“But one thing we won’t be doing is letting anyone go out who we are going to need here.

“We feel as if we have got a good thing going and we don’t want that to be upset by one or two going out.”