Dale tie up Darby loan and the Full back becomes fifth signing since Eyre took charge at Spotland

Rochdale have confirmed the signing of Liverpool defender Stephen Darby on a season long loan deal and he said news paper revealed earlier on Thursday that Dale had won the race to sign Darby for the 2011/12 campaign ahead of several other clubs.
Doncaster Rovers, MK Dons and Oldham Athletic were all keen on Darby, who spent most of last season on loan in League One with Notts County and he is behind Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly in the pecking order at the Liverpool and his move to a Spotland will give the 22-year-old the chance to build up his first team experience.

Darby becomes Dale manager Steve Eyre's fifth signing since he replaced Keith Hill in charge at Spotland last month and eyre has previously added Marc Twaddle,Ashley Grimes,Simon Hackney and Andrew Tutte to his squad ahead of the coming season.

Didi Hamann has been appointed Stockport County manager on a one-year deal and the ex Liverpool midfielder to begin managerial career in non-league

The former Germany international was on a coaching staff at the MK Dons and Leicester last season and has now chosen to begin his managerial career with non-league County and the Cheshire club saw their 105-year run in the Football League end last season as they were relegated from League Two.

The Hatters will be hopeful of bouncing back at the 1st attempt with a new board now in the place and Hamann being named new boss and ray Mathias had initially been told he would be kept on as manager and the County have now turned to Hamann, who was part of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League winning team and the 37 year old still lives in the area after leaving Manchester City in 2009.

Coaching role for a 62 cap international then had a year away from football before returning in a player coach role with MK Dons last season and the former Bayern Munich and Newcastle midfielder made 12 appearances of the League One club before finishing the campaign as Leicester's first-team coach under his former Man City boss Sven Goran Eriksson and he said at a press conference on Tuesday that he is unlikely to play for County next season but refused to rule it out.