Boss gives us his honest assessment as we approach the end of the first half of the season.
David Artell has thanked the support of the club’s board and supporters after what he has described as a ‘sticky three to four months’ in charge. The Alex have managed to claw the gap back to four points in the quest to escape the relegation drop zone and Artell has been encouraged by our recent lift in performances.
A 2-0 win over Lincoln City on Tuesday evening lifted us off the bottom of the table and although the manager says that we have a lot of hard work still ahead of us, we have certainly given ourselves a fighting chance.
Artell says that the uniqueness of our club and the knowledge of our supporters has made his job easier than most other managers.
An honest Artell told us: “The truth is that any other football club I would have probably been sacked by now. I am not naïve enough to think otherwise but at the same time there won’t be many other clubs who have seen five or six of their best players leave over the last six months either.
“I would like to think that when you do your bit you get that support back from the board and I do. They are good, honest people to work with and we work through issues, both good and bad together.
“We are open and honest and are on the same page with the philosophy and the business model and the stability is there.
“Don’t get me wrong, we are in a results industry and are second from bottom.
“We have won a couple of games lately but we have a hell of a lot of hard work to get through. “
The gaffer also praised the patience of the Crewe fans. Artell says that they are arguably the most understanding of a club’s position in the entire country.
He told crewealex.net: “The majority of the supporters really get this football club and I can only thank them for their support.
“At any other club, they would probably be calling for my head and putting pressure on the board. Most chairman or owners would then turn that heat back onto the manager and replace him.
“The fans understand the processes and that it comes in cycles here more than anywhere else with the players coming through and moving on. We have had a successful two and half years and seen some players move on.
“I just hope they got some satisfaction to see eight Academy lads in our team on Tuesday and we won a game of football against a good Lincoln side. We have had a sticky three or four months but we are getting there.”