Steve on why Ryan Colclough's loyatly to the club and patience paid off for him.

Alex boss Steve Davis has told crewealex.net that Ryan Colclough made the right decision in signing in his new contract with us in the summer. The 21-year-old went out on contract in the closed season, but the club managed to get the talented forward to re-sign and get back playing for our first team.

There was an agreement between all parties that if he did sign his new deal and repaid the faith the club had shown him over a difficult spell with injuries then we wouldn’t stand in his way if a club came in for him. That has always been the Crewe policy and Colclough wanted to further his career at Wigan Athletic.

Davis is pleased that Colclough’s decision to stay with us and his subsequent hard work has seen a return on our investment and resulted in Coco getting his right move. 

Steve explained to the club’s official web-site: “Ryan knew how much he wanted him to stay with us. We have had to stand by him and help him both on and off the pitch at times and I know he appreciates the way the club looked after him.

“Deep down we thought he wanted to stay and continue his development with us. We had to work hard to keep him at the time but I think he knows that he made the right decision. He has benefitted by playing consistently over the last six months. He needed to do that and it is his first full season really in terms of the number of games he has played.

“It was the right thing for his career and we told them that if he got back to the level we know he was capable of then he would catch the eye again. He did that and all credit to him. He knuckled down and was playing well. He was our top scorer and the way he was playing was going to alert clubs.

“We heard that one or two may have been watching him but Wigan were the only club to step forward and back that judgement with a fee. They put their money where their mouths were and it is a good club for Ryan to be joining.

He added: “They want to get back up to the Championship and they are a big club, especially for this division. They are having a real go. The parachute payment they receive from the Premier League will help with that but they are a good club and I’m sure Ryan will continue to progress with them.”