Dario Gradi says it will be good to catch up with Steve Cotterill this weekend now that the former Cheltenham, Stoke and Burnley boss is back in the game at Notts County. Gradi and Cotterill did their pro-licence coaching course together and spend 12 months in regular contact after forming a friendship.

Now they will be in opposition dugouts again this weekend with Crewe looking to dent Notts County promotion hopes with a positive result at Gresty Road. Notts County are looking to hold onto one of the three automatic promotion places in what is turning out to be an intriguing race.

Cotterill has been brought in by Notts County's latest set of owners to complete the job. It has been a year of turmoil at Notts County - but to their enormous credit the players have remained firmly focussed on trying to win promotion.

Dario told the club's official web-site: "I spent some time with Steve when we did our pro-licence course together. We were in regular contact and it was a good experience.

"He spoke to me on a couple of occasions about possible jobs and asked for my opinion but I haven't spoken to him for a while and it will be good to catch up with him again.

"We haven't come up against each all that much so that will be interesting. His team are going for promotion and we are looking to finish the season strongly.

"They have Lee Hughes out but that won't affect them too much with the squad they have. They have strength in depth and missing one player never affects you that much. If they had five or six out then it could be different but we know that we will have to play well to get a result."