Mark Kitching has sorted himself out for next season by signing for Hartlepool United.

The former Middlesborough youth team player was released by Dale at the end of the last season after 18 months at the club. It was 18 months spent mostly on the fringes of the first team but he did alright in the few chances that he did get and looked like he might have got an extended deal.

In signing for the Conference side, they are making a big deal in their announcement that he is left sided and can play in defence rather than the central midfield role he was given mostly at Dale.

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