Two In - One Out At Chorley

Ward and Kearney, both defenders for Dale’s under-18 side, impressed against Chorley in a pre-season friendly when they featured for the first-team in July.

Ward is an up-and-coming youngster who will provide cover in the back line.

He signed for Rochdale in the summer of 2016 and has certainly impressed everyone at Spotland.

Kearney, who left home in Armagh to join Dale last year, has plenty experience and even played in the national set-up, having made several appearances in defence for the Northern Ireland team at youth level.

Chorley`s assistant-manager Jamie Vermiglio said: “Both of these lads played very well against us during the pre-season friendly and despite being a young age, are very ‘mature’ in terms of their strength, attitude and football knowledge. I would like to thank Keith Hill at Rochdale for his support in making these players available and helping us out at a time when we are experiencing injury and suspension, particularly in defensive areas. We are delighted with the acquisitions and hope we can help them as much as they help us.”

Rochdale`s player development head coach Chris Brown believes it will be a great experience for the pair: “Chorley were really impressed with the lads when they played against them in pre-season and had asked about the possibility of them going out on loan there, and Keith Hill wanted them to go out on loan and experience men’s football.

“It’s a great experience for them. It’ll be a different type of football – winning at all costs football. They’re only young lads and they’ll be coming up against fully grown men who have been around the block, so it's going to be a test for them.”

Ward (pictured) started in Chorley's goalless draw at home to Brackley Town on Saturday, whilst Kearney came on as a late substitute, as they helped the Magpies to a clean sheet on their debuts.

Meanwhile, Chorley have mutually agreed to part ways with experienced striker Terry Gornell.

In the summer, he moved from League Two side Accrington Stanley to part-time football because he also wanted to invest time into his company.

Vermiglio added: “Unfortunately, things have not worked out as both parties would have wished, but Terry goes with our best wishes and we hope his business venture is a successful one”.