Holness leaves Spotland

Central defender Marcus Holness has left the club after the club agreed to rip up his contract.

News came through on Thursday that defender Marcus Holness had left the club. The defender had recently spent time on trial at Burton Albion and it is expected that he will put pen to paper on a contract with the Brewers in the next few days.

This brings to an end a Dale career that promised so much yet ultimately ended in such disappointment. Originally drafted into the club from Oldham, Holness was very much back up in the squad, but it was the departure of Nathan Stanton that gave him his real chance.

Fans raised their eyes that following the promotion to League One, Dale boss Keith Hill didn't go out and sign a replacement for Stanton, opting to go with Holness. It proved to be yet another correct decision, and playing alongside Craig Dawson in defence, Holness was named player of the season as Dale finished in their highest ever League position. It looked like Holness was ready to step up and take the Craig Dawson mantle.

However, following things took a turn for the worse when Hill left the club. New boss Steve Eyre announced early on the desire to have a left footed central defender to play alongside his new signing Neal Trotman, and the reigning Player of the Season's place was under threat.

Although he started the season in his usual position, his place in the side was soon sacrificed and it was the start of a very disappointing season for the former Oldham defender, and by the time the season came to a close, he was very much yesterday's man, and this week's release will have come as no surprise to anyone.

With Holness' departure, there is only Jason Kennedy and Joe Thompson who remain from the promotion side of 2009-10.

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