David Artell has told the club’s official web-site that signing three players early in the close season has eased the pressure on getting one over the line for the sake of it.

The Crewe Alexandra boss appreciates that he needs to add another midfield player and a couple of defenders to his squad at the very least, but he says being able to sign the three we have already has given the squad a boost.

Artell told crewealex.net: “If we had lost the likes of Guthrie, Turton and then Bingham and Hollands for family reasons, and not signed anyone then I am sure the fans would have been asking what is going on.

“It would have been a case of trying to get one over the line for the sake of it and I won’t do that. That is not the right way to do things. I want good players at this football club and I think the staff have done a great job with the three we have managed to get in so far.

He added: “It can be incessant but I am not complaining. We have a bit to go but we have irons in the fire and we will get more over the line. It is all promising and the hard work is paying off.”