Perkins leaves Wigan Athletic to join Rochdale

The popular midfielder, who turns 36 next month, was offered new terms to extend his tenure with Latics for a further 12 months.

But he’s taken the longer deal - with more scope for first-team football - at Rochdale, with whom he spent the 2007-08 campaign.

Perkins was voted player of the year by the players and the fans during the 2015-16 promotion-winning campaign.

The following season was less memorable with Latics suffering relegation from the Championship.

But he recently picked up his second League One title-winning medal to round off his time at the DW on a high.

“I’ve always thought there was at least another 12 months in the Perkins legs, I just wasn’t sure where it would be,” he told the Wigan Post.

“I would have loved to have stayed - I love the club, the fans, the lads in dressing room, the training ground - but it wasn’t to be.

“Coming to the end of your career, you really do appreciate things like your relationship with the fans.

“Sometimes you can take things for granted in this game.

“But I’ve loved everything about my time at Wigan and I leave on great terms.”