Probets quits Spotland

Rochdale have mutually terminated the contract of midfielder Ashley Probets.

The 19-year-old leaves the League Two club after struggling to settle in the North West following his summer move from Premiership side Arsenal.

Dale boss Steve Parkin was disappointed to see the teenager leave after little more than five months at the club.

"He already is a good footballer, but I thought 12 months here would make him a player who could handle all aspects of the game," Parkin told the club's official website.

"The unfortunate thing that we always knew would be a risk was the question of how he settled after moving up from London.

"Sadly, despite having a great relationship with his landlady and the players, he's missing home too much and it's got worse for him over the last few weeks and I suppose it didn't help with Christmas just around the corner."

Rochdale, meanwhile, have launched an enquiry following reports of racial abuse by club supporters towards Boston United goalkeeper Nathan Abbey on Saturday.

The Pilgrims have sent a report to The FA after Abbey claimed that Dale supporters verbally abused him with 'monkey chants' behind his goal at Spotland.

Referee Phil Prosser has mentioned the incident in his match report while Rochdale chairman David Kilpatrick has declared that such events would not be tolerated by the club.

"This is the sort of incident we will not tolerate at Spotland and I can assure anyone who does act in this way that we will hit them hard," Kilpatrick said.