Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy insists the club is "absolutely ready" for promotion as they prepare for their play-off campaign.Dale have been in the bottom tier of English football for 34 seasons, but they enter their two-legged tie with Darlington this weekend with Dunphy believing promotion is "absolutely essential" for the club to progress.

He told the Rochdale Observer: "This club is absolutely ready for the step up. One thing I've been sick of hearing is the idea Rochdale cannot afford to get promoted. Now is the time to move forward.

"The finances of football are changing and it's absolutely essential we get promoted.

"It might have been the case in the past that people here did not want us to go up, but not so any more."

Meanwhile, the club have released youngsters Ben Wharton, Reece Kelly, Simon Williams, Otis Williams and Tom Farrell.

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