Boss on letting Nolan and Waters leave this summer.

Steve Davis says he tough decisions to make over the futures of youngsters Liam Nolan and Billy Waters this summer.

The Alex boss elected not to exercise the one-year contract extension available on both players, thus allowing them to leave on free transfers this summer.

Liverpool-born Nolan, 20, made 16 appearances last season but he found it difficult to establish himself in Steve Davis’s starting line-up many due to the emergence of James Jones and the loan capture of Jamie Ness from Stoke City.

Billy Waters was a key player at the beginning of the season and he scored two goals in the opening three games of the season, but with the loan signings of Nicky Ajose, Uche Ikpeazu and the return of Lauri Dalla Valle on a permanent contract, his chances became few and far between and he ended the season with three goals from his 21 appearances in all competitions.

Steve told crewealex.net: “It is always tough to let young players go but I just felt it was time for them to go and play regularly somewhere. When they reach 20, 21, 22, they need to be establishing themselves in the team.

“It is never easy letting them move on and that was the case with Liam and Billy. Billy scored three goals early on in the season when the team was struggling. That included a goal of the season contender when he showed great technique to score against Barnsley.

“I just felt it was right for them as young players for them to take a different pathway and play regularly. It may be that they have to take a step down to come again but I’m sure they can come again.

The boss added: “With every young player leaving the club, they go with our best wishes, because we want them to do well in the game. We want them to have a career and I hope they go on and do really well for themselves. ”