Goalkeeper rose to the challenge to extend his Crewe stay

Steve Davis says that Alan Martin’s new 18-month deal is just reward for the work he has out in since the gauntlet was thrown down to him to improve in the summer. Martin was one of the out-of-contract players that was most discussed following the club’s promotion to League One with his future much in the balance heading after our Wembley victory.

Although talented, the former Leeds United goalkeeper failed to make a single appearance in the club’s promotion campaign mainly because of the exceptional form of veteran Steve Phillips.

Martin was offered a six-month deal on the condition that he got himself leaner, sharper and challenging for the number one jersey. A knee injury to Phillips gave him a chance to impress in the pre-season and he has certainly grabbed that opportunity with both hands. His reward was a recently penned new deal taking him through the summer of 2014.

Steve Davis told the club’s official web-site: “Alan worked really hard in the summer when we threw the gauntlet down to him. We knew he was a talented goalkeeper because we had seen it in training and in the reserve games, but he just seemed content to sit behind Steve Phillips.

“He had been signed by Leeds and played for Scotland Under-21s but had hardly played any games, so I think he thought it was time for him to show everyone that he wasn’t a bad goalkeeper.

“We gave him the challenge and he came back fit and raring to go. Alan has wanted to rebuild his career again and I think we are getting that out of him now. He has done really well and deserved his new deal.”