Richard Rose has left Dagenham & Redbridge by mutual consent. Pic: Dave Simpson/TGS

Richard Rose departs, but youngster Andrew Byrne signs on

Defender Richard Rose has terminated his Dagenham & Redbridge contract by mutual consent, while manager John Still has confirmed Andrew Byrne will join the club.

Rose moved to Victoria Road from Hereford 12 months ago, but found first team opportunities hard to come by last season.

The 29-year-old featured in 10 league matches, the last of which came as a substitute in a 5-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town on February 18.

However, 18-year-old defender Byrne – who played the final 10 minutes in Daggers 4-0 thrashing of a Brighton & Hove Albion XI on Saturday – will move to east London having caught the eye of boss Still while playing in a reserve team match for Bradford City.

Still said: “We have had to make cutbacks this year and unfortunately Richard Rose was part of the cutback situation that we felt we had to go through.

“He’s had an opportunity to go to a club which is much nearer to home and he felt that was the right thing to do.

“I have to say he is one of the game’s nice guys – a real top fella – and we wish him the best of luck.

“Andrew is a young boy that we’re going to take. He’s only a baby, but I like him.

“I saw him play a reserve team game for Bradford and I thought ‘he’s got something’. I hope he will be involved with the first team this season, but I haven’t thought too much about that yet.”

Meanwhile, former Southend United left-back Peter Gilbert also played in Saturday’s win over the Seagulls.

Gilbert, 29, made 40 appearances for the Shrimpers last term but is without a club having been released in the summer.

It is thought the defender would relish a move to east London, but Still warned more players must leave before there can be new arrivals.

“Peter has been at Walsall and he needed somewhere to keep fit. He’s come in and who knows what will happen between now and the start of the season,” said the Daggers boss.

“It’s an area that I would like to have a bit more competition in, but we have to move players out before we can move players in.”