Departing skipper is set for a new challenge with Blackburn but says Crewe are equipped to have a successful new season.

Harry Pickering may be set to make that step up to the Championship with his new club Blackburn Rovers, but the former Crewe Alexandra captain believes that the club he served with such distinction since a youngster in our Academy have all the credentials to compete at the top end of League One next season.

Pickering agreed to join Blackburn in the January transfer window but wanted to return to Crewe on loan to see out the remainder of the season and help us make a concerted effort for the play-offs.

Although we fell just short of that particular goal, the 22-year-old full-back feels that it proved a successful return to League One.

Harry told the club’s official website: “We had the success with the promotion and getting back into League One and although we feel we haven’t done as well as we should have done in relation to our league position, it has still been a good season.

“We fell a bit short and were disappointed to have dropped some of the points we have over the course of the season but I feel that if Crewe can keep hold of some of the players and bring some more in to improve then there is no reason why you cannot get yourself up there.

“There is a lot of quality in the squad and those that played will only benefit from a year in League One.”

Pickering has already trained with his new club and got to know his new teammates and staff at Blackburn but he admits that when he pulled on that Crewe shirt as technically a loan player, his focus was firmly on doing his best for the club.

“When it became known that it was part of the deal that I would return to Crewe on loan, I never had any problem with that. I wanted to help Crewe try and get into the play-offs, ‘says Harry.

“I was 100% focussed on doing my best for Crewe and helping the other players in the team as captain.

“I am now looking forward to moving to Blackburn. I've been into training with them for a couple of days and it was good to meet the players and the staff. It was just to get familiar with the surroundings and it was a good experience.

“It is on to make challenge now but I will always be a Crewe fan and look out for their results that is for sure.”