Rochdale have now confirmed their released list with just one of the out of contract first team players being offered a new contract.
Rochdale’s retained/released list has now been published as preparation for next season gets underway.
OFFERED NEW CONTRACT:
Liam Hogan
The 36-year-old centre-half only joined Dale back in September having left local rivals Oldham Athletic but went on to play 30 games for Dale this season. It’s probably unfair to say this but given his age and the fact Ethan Ebanks-Landell who was injured for the majority of the season and the Dale skipper is back now and contracted for next season.
Oscar Kelly
The youngster has done very well in the academy this season by all accounts and I'm glad because it really did seem like young Oscar's story wasn't going to turn out the way it looked like it was going to when he was 15/16 years old and was being talked about as Dale's next big money sale. Since then, he's just never been given an opportunity which has left a lot of fans surprised but he's done enough this season to be offered his first professional deal.
RELEASED AND LEAVING THE CLUB:
Kairo Mitchell
If you just looked on paper without watching him play, you’d think, fair play, we’ve got a 15+ goal a season striker here and they aren’t easy to come by at all, keep at all costs. But that’s just not the case with the Grenada international. The 27-year-old scored 19 goals in 50 games this season in all competitions but his performances have left a lot of Dale supporters incredibly frustrated and although I’m surprised that he’s been released, I’m not overly gutted.
Kyle Ferguson
The writing has seemed to be on the wall for the 25-year-old centre back for a while after being unable to break into Jim McNulty’s team for any real length of time and being sent out on loan to Yeovil Town during the back end of the season. He only managed 33 appearances for Dale over two seasons despite never really letting us down at any point and it’s a shame it’s turned out this way.
Courtney Senior
The experienced winger was a late summer signing following a trial period and was only ever really looked at as a back up player. He was sent out on loan to Chorley fairly early on and has been there pretty much ever since.
Charlie Weston
The once highly-rated Blackburn Rovers midfielder joined Rochdale in December on a short term deal until the end of the season following his release from Barrow. He’s not been able to break into the side here either with Corey Edwards preferred during the period where Ryan East was out injured and it comes as no surprise that he’s been released.
Brad Kelly
The 21-year-old back-up (sort of) goalkeeper has seemingly been with Dale forever and never been trusted to actually be the goalkeeper. Every time there’s been a keeper injury, he’s been pushed further back to the queue while a loan keeper comes in which unfortunately pretty much means he’s been paid a full time wage to have balls blasted at him in training.
Luke Mann
The first year professional hasn't been seen at all this season so his release comes as no surprise unfortunately.
Brooklyn Bailey
See above
John Dunlop
ACADEMY PLAYERS RELEASED:
Isaac Burgess
Kevin Dos Santos
Joe Akpan
Lucas Bispo Martinez
Will Clift
Leo Cooper
Braden Edghill
Ben Horne
Joe Nicholson
Joel Street