Donal McDermott and Jamie Allen were the stand out names in a list of six players that have had their contracts automatically extended by the club.

The contracts of a number of players who signed contracts at the club last year contained clauses that allowed the club to automatically extend it by a season should the club wish, and that has seen the club to secure the services of six players.

Jamie Allen, fresh from having been named as the club's Player of the Year at the weekend, has seen his deal extended by a year. Allen is certainly one of the shining lights of the squad, and perhaps the first player to have come through the ranks to be awarded Player of the Season in the modern era. We wouldn't be at all surprised if Allen is offered a new deal despite this extension.

McDermott is another player who supporters will be delighted to see retained by the club. At times he has been unplayable, and with his fitness levels improving all the time, he's set to be a pivotal member of the first team next season having been rescued by the club from a spell at Ramsbottom United.

Fans will also be pleased to see Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have his deal extended. He's weighed in with a number of goals throughout the season, and under the tutelage of Keith Hill, he's improving all the time. Many have suggested that with a Rochdale pre-season under his belt, we'll see him go on to even better things.

Perhaps earlier in the season, the thought of Joe Bunney having his deal extended would have been unthinkable, but as the season approaches its end, he has scored more goals from open play than anyone else at the club, and has kept Grant Holt out the side in recent weeks.

Is Joe Rafferty now our longest serving player? He can't be far off it now as one of two remnants from the Coleman era (discounting those here as youth players during that time). His extended deal will see his spell with the club extended to a fifth season.

James Hooper has seen his deal extended after making his breakthrough to the first team squad earlier this year.

Photo: Action Images

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