David Artell has spoken to out-of-contract defender George Ray and he remains fully confident that he will re-sign for the club this summer. Ray is out of contract and the club would receive compensation if he chose to sign elsewhere due to him being under 24.

Artell has gone on record to say he wants the former Wales Under-21 defender to re-sign and says that handing him the captain’s armband back in January, shows how highly the manager rates the centre-half.

David told the club’s official web-site: “I have spoken to George and it was positive. It is progressing and he told me he wants to be here. I want him here, so it should be just the nitty-gritty stuff.

“I think he knows how highly I rate him. The evidence is there from January. I played him and I gave him the armband. He has all the attributes to be a very good centre-half and the next step is to get him signed up.

“I think he would be taking a ridiculous risk to try and move. I know I can help him improve. I was a centre-half and I know he can get even better.

“He has told me he wants to play here, so I am fairly confident that George Ray will be a Crewe Alexandra player next season.”