Former Dale defender Dave Bayliss, now in charge at Conference side Barrow, has swooped to secure the loan signing of Marcus Holness.

The transfer comes in the weekend where Barrow lost their central defender Mike Pearson to a broken leg in their 3rd Round FA Cup tie at Middlesborough, which rules him out for the rest of the season.

Bayliss, who was a former team mate of Dale boss Keith Hill, has drafted in Holness to strengthen his side which will be of benefit to both parties with Holness looking to have lacked game time in recent appearances.

With Holness pencilled in as chief replacement defender for the centre of the defence, it doesn't take much to see this transfer paving the way for a central defender to come through the doors at Spotland in the next week or so.

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