My Crewe Alex Retained List and 2024-25 Squad Projection

So, the end of the season is only days away. And with that comes thoughts of the retained list for each EFL club.

For Crewe Alex though, looking ahead to see who might be coming back next season becomes tricky when they are in the middle of a promotion race. With their league status not decided, they have to have plans ready for both L2 and L1. Targets, budgets, contract renewals. It's tough given conversations about various players change depending on what league the Alex will find themselves in. Which might not be known for several more weeks.

However, I still want to look ahead to 24-25, so for the sake of this piece, I'm going to work on the idea that they stay in L2 next season, which given their current form looks an increasingly likely possibility.

So, first I want to look at the out of contract players and go through which of them I think it makes sense to retain and which players I'm moving on from. Then we'll look at who's left going into the summer and identify which areas they need to strengthen. They have a lot of free agents coming up, some they control the under 24 rights on, most they don't. They have 13 players on the list. Let's go through them:

Retention List

Luke Offord(CB/CM)

My Decision: Retain

Likely Outcome: Departs

The club have been trying to tie their captain down to a new deal for almost 2 years now to no avail. He seems determined to leave and it's hard to begrudge him a new challenge. It's a shame it took 5 seasons for him to get a proper run in midfield, but after first breaking into the team in 19-20, he's gone on to be an incredibly reliable player for the Alex, making 161 appearances since breaking into the team.

It's a shame to lose him for nothing and it's a shame his season ends with an injury, but he's already won 1 promotion and could be a big part in a potential 2nd. He deserves a nice move this summer.

Billy Sass-Davies(CB)

My Decision: Release

Likely Outcome: Leaves

Them choosing to bring in Ed Turns over recalling him says a lot about his future at both the club and in the EFL. He's gone in the summer. He seems to have progressed at Boreham Wood, but he's found his level. Best of luck to him. I can see him rocking up at Altrincham next season.

Zak Kempster-Down(CB)

My Decision: Unsure

Likely Outcome: Unsure

It's hard to say with this lad what his future holds. The fact that scholar Nathan Robinson saw more game time than him says something I think. Also, the fact that he's had 2 loan spells that didn't go so well with Bamber Bridge and Stafford Rangers also doesn't bode well. I'd imagine they'll give him another year to see if he sinks or swims, but he feels a long way off the first team. Although I thought that about Lewis Billington 6 months ago, so who knows.

Rio Adebisi(LB)

My Decision: Retain

Likely Outcome: Unsure

At the start of the season, he was probably a 50/50 player in terms of keeping beyond his current deal. But the improvement he's shown this season makes him an easy retention candidate now. He's under 24 and cannot leave for free this summer, so I would hope they can find a way to get one final year out of him. However, given his form, I can see a few L1 clubs taking a look at him. Durable, an eye for goal,

Zac Williams(LCB/CB/LWB/LB)

Decision: Retain

Likely Outcome: Stays

Williams has had a strange season. He's been better than last season, but there are still the worrying moments where he plays with a real lack of maturity. There are also concerns over his fitness, which remains an ever present issue. His best position looks to be LCB in a 4 man defence, but with Demetriou signed for at least another season, potentially 2, will he get a run of games in his best spot?

I don't see any clubs coming in for him this season like Brighton allegedly did 18 months given his frequent issues. Fingers crossed he isn't another Callum Ainley and can keep himself fit next season. He returns in my mind without any issues.

Conor Thomas(CM)

My Decision: Release

Likely Outcome: Unsure

This one I'm not sure about. Me personally, I'd release Thomas for several reasons. Whether you love him or loathe him, he doesn't stand to get much game time next season. With Powell and Tabiner likely back fit and starting most games and Holicek likely to also see plenty of game time, Thomas will find himself on the bench most weeks I'd say.

He also lacks the technical ability, mobility and durability to make him a worthy extension candidate. Are you giving a new 2 year deal(which is what he'll probably ask for) to your 3rd choice CM at best? Not for me. I'll thank him for his service, but it's time to move on and look for an upgrade. Will the management keep him? I'd imagine yes, given they'll likely see him as an experienced option and one who can serve as useful back up. But I think the money would be better off used on a better player than him.

Charlie Colkett(CM)

My Decision: Release

Likely Outcome: Departs

The fact he's gone on loan and wasn't kept around as depth says a lot. He's just totally unreliable fitness wise and that makes retaining him a non-starter. He's gone, that's 100% sure now. And it's the right decision for all concerned.

Chris Long(LW)

My Decision: Release

Likely Outcome: Unsure

Me personally, I release Long without hesitation. He is a good player, that is not up for debate. But I'm releasing him for several other reasons. He's a selfish player, too often playing for himself and not for the team. He whines too much at his teammates. He doesn't fit the system or offer enough in terms of all round play to make him worth keeping, especially in a LW role where they have him now. And I'm sorry, but I think outside of a great September, he's been mostly average in the games he's played this season.

Oh and did I mention that he's made of glass and has had multiple injury issues, for the 3rd season, which has limited him to 23 league starts to date.

I think the management like him though and I can see them making moves to keep him. It then comes down to whether he wants to stay or not. Hence why I'm unsure. But I really hope he's on his way.

Charlie Kirk(LW)

My Decision: Unsure

Likely Outcome: Unsure

I was always lukewarm to the prospect of Kirk returning. He was a good player for the Alex in their rise to promotion, but he's barely played football in the last 2-3 seasons and after signing back with the club in January, there were high hopes for him. He's shown his talent in flashes, but hasn't managed a goal contribution yet(although he was robbed of 2 assists in February).

He's a tricky one. He's looked bereft of confidence for the most part, but are the Alex going to find better than him? After his less than impressive final half of the season, how many teams are going to be queuing up to offer him a deal I wonder? Personally, I'm very much at ease with this one. If he stays, great. If he leaves, oh well.

Max Woodcock(RW)

My Decision: Retain

Likely Outcome: Stays

I don't know with Woodcock. He's had a very so-so loan spell with FC United of Manchester and wasn't ripping up trees for Runcorn Linnets. But with the club not exactly stacked for forward players in the squad for next season, I can see him being given another year to continue to develop and hopefully next year show he's capable of forcing his way into the first team squad. However, the fact he's not seen a minute of game time despite them being critically short at winger on several occasions doesn't give me much confidence that he'll ever be EFL ready.

Courtney Baker-Richardson(ST)

My Decision: Release Likely Outcome: Unsure

This one is tricky for a few reasons. First, I'll ask this question: Has he been that good this season? I'd argue no. He's had some good games, but not that many. He's struggled as he's been dropped in place of Nevitt, who has comfortably outstripped him production wise. He has his good moments, but I'm just not that bothered if he comes back or not, similar to Kirk.

Personally, whilst he's ok in a number of different ways, I'd like to see them find a striker who's good at one particular thing. Either find a target man who can win headers and balls in the air, or a smaller, faster player who can get in behind. Still, finding strikers who score 18 goals across 2 seasons with the club despite not making many appearances isn't easy. I wouldn't hate either outcome.

Elliott Nevitt(ST)

My Decision: Retain

Likely Outcome: Departs

The club rescued Nevitt from Tranmere, where he was floundering, last January. They kept the faith last season when he struggled to score. This season, he's come on leaps and bounds and is playing with new levels of confidence. He's a local lad, so I'm hoping their proximity to Merseyside works in their favour.

But scoring 17 goals across all competitions is always going to attract the attention of clubs who have deeper pockets. I can't imagine the Alex will be the only one offering him a deal this summer, so it'll be a case of whether he feels like he owes the club for the faith they showed in him, and if he wants to stay locally. I'm hoping he returns, but after scoring this many goals, we know what usually happens. I think he'll be on his way, which is a massive shame.

Other Moves

Dave Richards has been transfer listed for a year but only St Johnstone wanted him as a back up keeper. Can the Alex terminate his deal this summer? I sure hope so, as he's lived off the ridiculous generosity of previous managers for far too long. He needs to go.

Aside from that though, and for the first time in probably 3 ish seasons, there is no other deadwood left from the previous regime that I'd be looking to move out that is under contract for next season. A nice position to be in given that 2 seasons ago they had Lundstram to move on, then last summer there was Griffiths, Sambou, Sass-Davies, Colkett and Richards. They are almost clear of it at last!

Potential 24/25 Squad

It's obviously hard to project the squad as there are several players I genuinely couldn't call either way as to whether they will stay or not. For this exercise, we'll look at a worst case scenario where all the 50/50 senior players will be listed as gone.

So, when we add in the 2nd year scholars I think will get deals, this is my current projected 24/25 squad before any additions:

(Contract marked with year of expiry or with a * to indicate a new deal of unknown length)

GK: Tom Booth(2025 + Opt)

RB: Lewis Billington(2025 + Opt), Ryan Cooney(2025)

RCB: Zak Kempster-Down(*), Nathan Robinson(Scholar*)

LCB: Mickey Demetriou(2025 + Opt), Zac Williams(*)

LB: Charlie Finney(2025 + Opt)

CM: Jack Powell(2025 + Opt), Joel Tabiner(2026 + Opt), Matus Holicek(2025 + Opt), Owen Lunt(2025 + Opt), Callum Agius(2026 + Opt), Lewis Nolan(Scholar*)

RW: Shilow Tracey(2025), Max Woodcock(*)

LW:

ST:

Conclusion

Now, as I say, this is a worst case scenario. Add Adebisi and Nevitt back in and things look a lot better. But, if that was the squad going into the summer, how would we be feeling? Personally, that would be ok with me. Yes, there would be clear needs at number 2 GK, RCB, full back, CM, winger and striker. As a rough estimate, they would likely need 2-3 strikers, 2 wingers, another experienced CM, a full back who perhaps plays on the left but also can cover on the right and as mentioned, a back up GK.

But, the core of the defence is in place with Booth, Demetriou, Billington and Williams, with Finney to add in hopefully. The midfield is there for the most part, with only some minor tweaks needed. The front line would also be a blank canvas, with Bell able to go in whichever direction he likes. He could go for physicality and target bigger players. He could go smaller and find pace and technical ability.

Even without additions, if those players can take a step or maintain the levels we saw this season, then I'd feel fine with that being your core to build around.