David Artell remains hopeful that his captain will commit his future this summer.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell wants George Ray to re-sign this summer and become a rally key player for us next season. Artell was as good as his word when taking over from Steve Davis in January, promising his entire squad a fresh opportunity to impress. Ray took his chance with both hands and was even handed the captain’s armband following Ryan Lowe’s departure to Bury as a player/coach.

Ray, 23, made 18 appearances for the club in the second half of the season, scoring a vital winner away at Portsmouth in March. Sadly, his season was ended prematurely due to a fracture in his back sustained away at Yeovil.

Ray is under 24, so the club would be in a position to receive compensation for a player they have developed from a young age and helped turn into a Wales Under-21 International. Artell is hoping that Ray will sign though and avid the prospect of a tribunal.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “George I expect to sign, he came in the team and did fine. He deserves a new deal and hopefully he''ll be a mainstay of the team.”