Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell has admitted he is planning for the summer after suffering a disappointing end to the campaign.
The Railwaymen looked nailed on for at least a top seven finish earlier this year. They sat second in the table as recent as January but have won just three of their last 18 to slide down to 11th.
Although they are still mathematically in with a chance of reaching the play-offs, it would take a massive turn of events to see Crewe extend their season. They sit five points off seventh-placed Grimsby Town with two games remaining and would need the Mariners, Colchester United, Salford City and Chesterfield to suffer a capitulation to keep themselves in contention.
Bell Hints At Summer Transformation
Crewe’s form during the first half of the season saw Bell attract interest from elsewhere. The club confirmed in December that they had turned down an approach from elsewhere, believed at the time to have been from Burton Albion.
His job at the Mornflake Stadium is not thought to be under any threat, with the 42-year-old already setting his stall out for the summer. Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, he said:
“Results haven’t been good enough and I hold my hands up to that.
“We’ve had come really positive meetings as staff in terms of ramping up what we need for nest season. I’m really clear in terms of what we want to look for and what we need.
“It’s been a really testing time. It’s the first time I’ve really gone through something like this – it’s lasted longer that I wanted it to.
“I was hurting 10-12 games ago after defeats and it has been testing but it will only make me stronger.
“I know what we need to do to make it move forward.
“I’m so determined to make sure my end goal is what I want it to be and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it looks like that.
“I’m really clear in terms of what we want to looks for and what we need. I know what type of players we need.
“I wont back down – from it going through seven to 14 games with it not looking how I want it to. We will turn it around.”
Writer’s View
Crewe’s collapse has been an intriguing one, but that has been the story of League Two this season. We’ve seen similar from the likes of Walsall, whilst we’re still no closer to knowing any of the promoted teams. With two games left, half the division can achieve at least a play-off place, which is almost unprecedented. Lee Bell will feel that this is a huge missed opportunity though. The only thing he can do is build a squad capable of getting over the line next season.
