David Artell has revealed that the club have exercised the 60-day ruling to protect those players under the age of 23 and going out of contract. The Alex boss and his staff have had to make decision on who they wish to retain from that particular age-group to cover any compensation issues if they were to leave. That looks unlikely.

David told crewealex.net: “We have done what we have to do in regards to the younger ones. We had to make the decisions on them because of the 60-day ruling. Those Under-23 have to be offered a new contract to protect our compensation rights going forward.

“So now some now that we wish to retain them.

“In regards to the others, the older ones going out of contract this summer then there are a lot of variables to content with at the moment. That is a lot we are unsure about.

“As a club we don’t know when it will be safe to resume playing football again. We don’t know how long we will have to play behind closed doors and that affects season ticket sales, although I must say those fans that have renewed have really helped us out. They have been brilliant.

“There are the questions over testing and making it safe for the players, staff and whoever else has to be in the stadium when we do get back.

“We don’t even know which division we will be in next season so there is a lot to contend with.”