Dale keeper Jamie Spencer has been sent out on loan to Chester City, after the Football League gave the Deva Stadium club permission to sign an emergency keeper.

Spencer has become Dale's forgotten man of the season, after he found himself as third choice behind England U-21 Frank Fielding  and Sam Russell.

But with Chester finding themselves without a fit keeper on their books, Dale were quick to answer their pleas for help after they were given special dispensation by the Football League to sign a new keeper despite the transfer deadline for loans having passed.

Spencer will join Chester for a week initially, such is the permission from the FL but this will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Chester's decision to bring in an emergency keeper after the transfer deadline brings back immediate memories of when relegation threatened Carlisle did the same a few years back.

Ten years ago, the Cumbrians drafted in Jimmy Glass in for the final three games of the season as an emergency keeper but it was at the other end where he carved his name into the history books by scoring a 94th minute goal to secure Carlisle's place in the Football League.

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