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Jones goes

30/11/2001

The dynamic midfielder put pen to paper on a deal worth £215,000, subject to him passing a medical at Oakwell.

But caretaker manager David Hamilton says he wants the first player to exit Spotland since Parkin's departure to be the last.

"No-one has come in for any other players," he said.

"But I don't want to lose any more from this squad of players because I think they are good enough to get us where we want to be this season."

"Obviously I'm very disappointed to see Gary Jones go," Hamilton said.

"I think he has been terrific for Rochdale Football Club over the last two and a half years and I nicknamed him 'captain courageous'.

"He will be missed very much but we would have lost him for nothing at the end of the season after his contract ran out."

Chairman Mr David Kilpatrick added that Rochdale had no option but to sell Jones.

"Gary Jones was determined to leave Rochdale Football Club at the end of the season," he said.

"We had already tried to agree a new contract and extend his contract but he wasn't having it.

"He became aware of the offer from Barnsley. He knew they wanted him and he wanted to go.

"The package is £215,000 - £175,000 is the first payment and £40,000 more after appearances."

He continued: "We are sorry to see him go.

"He was a very influential member of the team and, obviously at this stage of the season and the position we are in, it's devastating.

"It's just a compilation of the whole circumstance that's going on at the moment"