Alex Morris has told the club’s official website that the decision of Zac Williams to sign his first professional contract shows that the Academy model continues to work.

Williams signed a two-year deal after claiming the club’s breakthrough player-of-the-year award in his debut season when still a scholar.

The Crewe boss told crewealex.net: “It’s great that Zac has signed his professional contract and that he is with us for the next two years at least. He is a young player with great potential and has a great attitude.

“He is versatile enough to play in multiple positions. We know he is going to be an important player for us again.

“Zac and his dad were great all the way through the negotiations. They are ingrained in the Crewe way having been here for many years and it was just a question of a couple of things in regards to the contract.

“There is a lot more that goes into contracts than just the value and the length and we were delighted to get it over the line.

“They see the bigger picture and it proves that the Academy model is still working. We want him to play in our first team for as long as possible but in the end we will sell them. That is the model and the club deserve to be rewarded for the work the Academy staff have put into him over many years.”