OWEN Dale has completed a permanent switch to Championship Blackpool after a deal was thrashed out with Crewe today (Thursday).

The winger returned to the Alex this week at the end of his loan spell at Bloomfield Road and it looked like he might be resuming his career in Cheshire.

But the Tangerines have agreed a fee - reported to be in the region of £500,00 - with the Alex and Dale has penned a two-and-half year contract at Bloomfield Road.

Dale told Blackpool's official website: "I'm happy to now be here as a permanent player and I'm ready to really crack on. This will give me a lot more freedom. I've done fine so far, but there's definitely a lot more to come from me and I can now kick on and show that."

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley said: "It was always our plan to bring Owen here permanently, and I'm delighted that we've come to an agreement with Crewe. This permanent move will settle him down and hopefully we'll see the benefits of that."