David Artell says that it is not his objective to ‘kill his players’ in pre-season. The Crewe Alexandra has introduced a tough regime with very few days off - but he says that it is merely for their own good when it comes to lasting 90+ minutes in games and performing over 46 plus games.

The majority of the Alex players have been into the club’s Reaseheath training complex twice a week over the summer to keep their fitness levels ticking over.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “We will try and make the players as fit as they can be but that doesn’t mean I will flog them. I don’t want to kill them, that is not what pre-season is about.

“If a manager stands there and just barks out run, run, run, run harder all summer as players do laps of the pitch then I am sure the players will be quickly questioning him.

“We put sessions on so they can get fit whilst also doing ball work. I am not a dictator, they have to enjoy it as well.

“It is our aim to get them in tip, top shape and they will be working very hard but at the end of the day, the players are responsible for their bodies and how they look after them.

He added: “It is our job to make sure they are fit to go for 90+ minutes in every game over the amount of games we have.”