DAGENHAM & Redbridge head into this Saturday’s League Two encounter with Port Vale minus the services of left-back Scott Griffiths, who completed his move to Championship outfit Peterborough United last week.

The defender has made the switch to London Road on loan until January, although the deal has been agreed with a view to a permanent transfer, writes Ross Davies.

The Daggers are set to recoup a substantial fee for the talented full-back, and a replacement is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

It leaves the team with just one available first-team full-back for the visit of Vale, with Scott Doe set to step in on the right for Abu Ogogo, who will serve the first of a three-game ban after he was shown a straight red card during the 2-2 draw against Macclesfield Town on Saturday.

Griffiths was another of manager John Still’s rough diamonds unearthed from non-league football. The 23-year-old joined Dagenham from Aveley back in 2004 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the Victoria Road side.

It is little wonder the defender has finally been snared by a big fish, following a string of impressive performances this season.

He becomes the Daggers’ eighth high-profile departure since the end of last season. The influential trio of Sam Saunders, Ben Strevens and Danny Foster all departed for Brentford after their contracts expired, while the club were awarded compensation for defensive linchpin Magnus Okuonghae, who left for Colchester United. The club received a reported £250,000 for midfield prodigy Solomon Taiwo when he was picked up by Championship high-fliers Cardiff City. Glen Southam was released and midfielder Matt Ritchie returned to Portsmouth after completing his season-long loan spell.

Despite a merry-go-round in the transfer market, Dagenham remain in pursuit of an automatic promotion place, and they even have the chance to go top of League Two this weekend.

The Daggers have turned Victoria Road into a fortress this season, and a seventh home win, coupled with a loss for leaders Bournemouth, who host third-placed Rochdale, would see Still’s men claim top spot on Saturday.