Assistant manager Lee Bell has reiterated the sentiments of Alex Morris by stressing that pre-season under the new regime ‘will be tough and hard’, but he has challenged the Crewe players to get the best out of themselves.

It is evident that the Alex staff are aiming to create a fitter more robust squad going into League Two.

The club’s assistant manager told us: “The pre-season is going to be a tough one but the message to the players is to embrace it and take it on.

 “They need to get everything they can out of themselves because I think there is so much more to come from some of these players, especially physically. It is going to be hard but we are all in it together.

“Can they get every bit of themselves out of the work, so they become fitter, because if they do they will last the games better, their concentration will be better and their decision making becomes better.

Lee added: “I am sure they will take that on board if they do then we will get them to where we want them to be.”