Assistant manager Lee Bell says it will be a fresh start for everyone in pre-season as we look to put the disappointment of last season behind us. Crewe suffered relegation to League Two after two seasons at the higher level and a management reshuffle saw the long-serving Bell promoted to assistant manager to Alex Morris.

Together, they oversaw the last four games and there was an evident uplift in performances with a 3-1 win over AFC Wimbledon in their first game in charge ending a run of eight straight defeats.

Bell told the club’s official website: “It is a fresh start for everyone and I know it is the old cliché, but I saw a slight difference in certain players, who had not been getting a lot of minutes, in the few weeks we worked with them.

“I think that is only going to benefit us going forward and the important thing is to honest with them and let them know where they stand and how they have to improve.

“If you do that and then communicate that they need to be better at X, Y, Z then that trust helps and hopefully they take that on board and transport it out onto the pitch.

“I have been in this situation for many years now. I have transferred from player into a coach a long time ago now and the players know there are boundaries and lines that cannot be crossed. I respect everyone at the club and hopefully you get that returned to you.

“It is important to have those relationships as an assistant manager and coach and when you do have that trust and you understand that you are all aiming for the same thing then it can only make you stronger.”