David Artell says that Ainley is 'not far off' agreeing a new contract with the club.

Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that Callum Ainley will soon follow Josh Lundstram and Regan Griffiths and put pen-to-paper on a new deal.

Artell described the signing of a new contract as ‘imminent’ and he doesn’t see any further delay in the Academy graduate committing his immediate future to Crewe.

Ainley is out of contract this summer but due to his age would warrant a compensation fee if he was to sign elsewhere. Artell does not envisage that happening and says that a deal has now been agreed in principle and him signing the contract is now ‘not far off’.

Ainley had an injury interrupted season after suffering a severe hamstring injury away at Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup in November but he did recover in time to finish the season strongly and he hit the winner at Bristol Rovers in the club’s last away game.

Artell told the club’s official website: “I would now say it is very close with Callum. It is just a question of it begin signed off by his lawyers.

“I am in conservation with his agent and was unable to talk with him yesterday due to unforeseen circumstances but I would say that Callum signing his contract is imminent now and we should have some positive news on that soon.”