ROSSENDALE have reported Scarborough to the FA for making an 'illegal approach' to midfielder Mark Patterson.

The former Wanderers and Bury star has joined the Conference club as player-coach this week and, while Dale don't want to hold the player back, they feel Scarborough have acted 'unprofessionally.' Boss Jim McCluskie said: "There had been no approach from their chairman to anyone at Rossendale and they should have put seven days notice on him, and that is just to have permission to speak to him." We have no bones with Mark and we wish him all the best." "He has been our most consistent player this season and I, as a manager, have learnt a lot from him.

"I am sorry to see him go, he has had a big influence on the side and he is a great player and I do not like seeing good players go.

"We are just concerned about the way it has been done." Dale have been on the other side of this early this season when they were found guilty of making an illegal approach to Ramsbottom's Mike Smith.

"The FA made the decision, we had to go along with it but we didn't agree with it," admitted McCluskie.

"We just don't feel Scarborough have acted properly in this case. If they had any decency they would have contacted us."