David Artell has told the club’s official website that he is looking forward to seeing our former coach, Neil Critchley, revisit Gresty Road this weekend.

Critchley is in his first senior position as manager of Blackpool after previously enjoying considerable success as coach of Liverpool’s Under-23s. Critchley’s work at Anfield also included him taking the first-team for a League Cup tie against Aston Villa and enjoy ban FA Cup replay win at Shrewsbury during the 2019-2020 season.

Critchley, 41, spend considerable time as a coach in Crewe Alexandra’s Academy after making one senior appearance for the first-team away at Fulham in the Championship back in 1999.

Ahead of Critchley’s return to Crewe, Artell told us: “Critch is a proper football guy and a good friend of the club. He is a really good guy and I look forward to seeing him.

“He is a real good bloke, an honest and hardworking guy and we all know what a terrific coach he is.

“He has probably coached three quarters of our team coming through the Academy, so he will know them inside out. He will know what boot size they wear!

“It will be nice to see him and we wish him well after the game tomorrow.

“It is his first managerial job and he is making a real fist of it. He has had a big turnaround of players there in the summer but he will stamp his authority on the team and they will only benefit from his coaching and knowledge of the game.

“They will be prepared well under Critch and we expect that. It will be an intriguing encounter and we will have to put any personal feelings and friendships to the side for 90 plus minutes.”