With Perkins on his way to pastures new, we did receive some good news as Rory McArdle has signed a new contract keeping the Northern Ireland U-21 international at Spotland until June 2010.
With the story no doubt timed in such a way to back up the club's announced intentions of keeping the current squad together, it will at the very least bring some comfort to Dale supporters.
McArdle was one of the biggest success stories of the 2007-8 season, as he went from being a player considered to be a young prospect to one of the most important players at the club.
His early days at the club during his first loan spell from Sheffield Wednesday saw him struggle at times in a very unsettled defence which seemed to change week in week out.
But he has more than justified all the praise he received during that time. Last season, he made forty nine appearances throughout the season, forming a exceptionally strong partnership at the back with Nathan Stanton, culminating in scoring a goal at Wembley.
McArdle has been tipped to make the step up from the Northern Ireland U-21 to the full squad during the next season.