Dale will meet a new referee on Saturday when Darren Handley takes charge of the home game against Fleetwood.

The Bolton official is in his second season on the referees’ list and this is his first match at Spotland as the man in the middle.

However, Darren did appear at Spotland in his days as a linesman, most notably in August 2007 when he was one of the assistants for Dale’s Carling Cup tie against Stoke.

The game ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, before Dale won on penalties against a Stoke side destined to reach the Premier League nine months later.

Mr Handley, a PE teacher, was promoted from the Conference list at the end of the 2013/14 season and refereed Oxford v Burton as his first league appointment.

He has officiated mainly in the bottom two divisions since then, although his last game a fortnight ago was Reading v Bristol City in the Championship.

Earlier this season Darren refereed another Lancashire derby between Oldham and Wigan, as well as Coventry v Northampton in the FA Cup.

Altogether, Mr Handley has taken charge of 19 games this season, showing 73 yellow cards and four red.

Photo: Action Images

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