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Lewis Callaghan - Leaving Gresty Road
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Academy Director Steve Holland has expressed his sadness at having to inform five of the clubs second year scholars that they will not be offered professional terms next season, meaning their Association with Crewe Alexandra has come to an end.
Whilst nine scholars were offered pro terms last week, defenders Lewis Callaghan and Alastair Brown, midfielder Lee Mannion and forwards Triston Hamilton-Hendricks and Anthony Marshall were told that they would be leaving Gresty Road as their scholarship deals came to an end.
"The fact that they have been released is certainly not down to attitude or effort," Steve told Crewe Alex World last week
"It is purely a professional assessment based on potential and ability. The lads that we haven't taken have tried as hard as the lads we have taken and so that makes it difficult.
"In a lot of cases, the lads who are leaving, have been with us for a very long time. Alastair Brown for example, I remember recruiting him in Manchester when he was just eight years of age. He is now 18 and obviously that is a long time. It's worse for him than it is for me, but it's not very pleasant for any of us to let him go."
The five youngsters will now look to assess their options as they look to move forward for next season, but will be given the clubs support should they require it, in their search for a new club. The recent success of Nantwich Town in the FA Vase, a team which included former Crewe youngsters such as James Marrow and Matt Blake, shows there is life after the Alex, and Holland and his Academy staff will look to help the teenagers in the right path forward.
"What we do try to do is guide them as to their best direction now based on the contacts we have etc," Steve said
"In Lewis Callaghan's case we think their may be some good possibilities in non-league, and the same applies for Alastair and all of the lads. There will be something that we think is a good way forward for them.
"Adam Howard for example, who some of the supporters may remember from our Youth Cup side which got to the Semi-Final a couple of years ago, we found him an opportunity in America, and he took that and is still out there halfway through that scholarship.
"So it isn't the end of the world, and as one road closes it's a matter of trying to find the next one."
In depth Interview with Steve Holland, as he discusses the players released and those offered professional deals, can be found now on Crewe Alex World.
