Rochdale: Ashley Grimes heads eight departing players

Rochdale forward Ashley Grimes heads a list of eight players that will be leaving the club in the summer.

Grimes, 26, has scored 11 goals in 41 appearances for Dale this season.

Neill Byrne, Matt Edwards, Terry Gornell, Andy Haworth, Ritchie Jones, Kevin McIntyre and Matt Pearson are also set to be released.

Rhys Bennett, Steve Collis, Phil Edwards, Ian Henderson, Jason Kennedy, Joe Rafferty, Michael Rose and Andrew Tutte will be offered new deals.

Manager Keith Hill, who signed a new three-year contract last week, also announced that midfielder Brian Barry Murphy will become player-coach next season.

Captain Peter Cavanagh intends to take up his one-year option, while youngsters Godwin Abadaki and Reece Gray have one-year extensions with the Spotland club.