The Crewe Alex 2025 Retained List & Summer Shopping List

Well, it took a little longer than some fans would have liked, but Crewe Alex published their retained list for the 2025-26 season. And what was nice about this list was the lack of controversy in it. But whilst there were few decisions to disagree with, it did raise a lot of questions. But we'll get into those at the end of this piece. For now, let's break down the various sections of their retained list:

Offered fresh terms

Tom Booth

I thought Booth had an option on his deal, but it might be that they've offered him a brand new contract, which I wouldn't be surprised to be a 2 year deal. It's a crossroads season for Booth. After a lost year of development stuck behind Filip Marschall, the club will likely see a new loan keeper once again this summer and Booth will have to work hard to make himself the number 1 and convince fans that he can hack it week in, week out in L2.

Charlie Finney

I did wonder if they would move on from Finney, but they opted to keep him around for a while longer. This is perhaps the only decision I would disagree with, but even then I can see the logic in keeping him around as cheap depth. He can play both full back sides and maybe even further forward. But he'll be 22 in October and has yet to get even a run of starts. I can't see him being a first choice next season, so another season warming the bench could well be his future. He'll need to establish himself and quickly, other wise next season could be his last in professional football. 1 year with the option of a 2nd would be my guess as to his fresh terms.

Owen Lunt

Lunt is more established than Finney, but he too has a big season ahead of him. He has his supporters in the fan base, he has his detractors. He'll only be 21 in 25-26, so does have some time on his side. But this is his time to make himself an indespensable part of the first team picture, especially given the injury issues with Thomas and the management's apparent souring on Jack Powell and Max Sanders. He has an opportunity to nail down a starting role. He needs to take it. I can see a 2 year deal being on the table for him.

Zac Williams

The club were never going to walk away from compensation for him, but it's interesting to see the general consensus be that he would be best served by moving on this summer. I agree with that. Like Chris Long, he's become a malcontent and I think the whole club would be better off with him removed from the equation. Hopefully a team can be convinced to sign him. Because him returning next season causes more issues than it solves.

Option triggered

Lewis Billington

The club activated the option on Billington's contract, but questions do remain about where he'll play next season and how big a part he will be in the team. At worst, he's cheap and dependable in terms of injuries. Plus he can play a variety of positions across the defence. But I don't think I'd make him a regular starter at any spot. Still, he's sticking around and that's fine with me.

Discussions Ongoing

Shilow Tracey

The rumours are that Tracey was offered a new deal in January, but neglected to sign it. Now, with just 1 goal since mid-November and a bad leg break, his circumstances have changed. I get why they don't just want to let him go, as his return to the game is complicated and they like what he brings.

But personally, I'm not too fussed whether he stays or goes. I get he has a fun song and I do understand he brings more than goals with his ability to stretch defences. But actual goal contributions are important too and 13 across the last 2 seasons just isn't enough from a player who starts most weeks. If they have done this to do right by him whilst he rehabs from his broken leg, I get it.

A 1 year deal as a bench option once he returns to fitness is ok, I suppose. But were he to find a new club and move on, I'd be more than fine with that too.

Released

Ryan Cooney

I honestly don't mind the shithousery from him. And I do think it's a shame that things ended the way they did after he did so well to come back into the team and put in such a strong run of games in September, October and November. But the reality is, he's a bit of a liability and he isn't likely to remain in the EFL next season I wouldn't think. I think they can do better than him in the transfer window.

Lucas Sant

Always looked like cheap depth, it was telling that they didn't give him a single minute of league football despite being fit all season. I suspect he'll drop into the non-leagues and bounce around a few local clubs. Best of luck to him.

Chris Long

They did it. They finally did it. They moved on from him, something which should have happened 2 years ago but didn't. I am so glad this thoroughly dislikeable individual can be someone else's headache next season. I would wish him good luck, but that wouldn't be sincere. More like good riddance. Good riddance to the divings, the massive chip on his shoulder, the whining at teammates and his detestable personality.

Kane Hemmings

I don't get the glee from some fans towards him being released. The lack of service and his unfortunate run with injuries probably contributed more to his poor 24-25 season, but the ability looks to be diminishing and whilst he battled and grafted, he struggled to get into the goal scoring positions. With him though, I do thank him for his hard work and wish him luck wherever he goes next.

Scholars offered professional contracts

Just a quick one on this, I would like to point out that I predicted 4 players would get new deals this summer when I released my scholars article back in late February. They were the exact 4 players who did end up getting deals. I might get a lot of things wrong, but this one I got spot on.

Stan Dancey

Not a whole lot of surprise to see them sign up their youth team captain. How good he can go on to be or where his natural position is remains up in the air, but he's an intriguing option to add into the squad and one I expect to head out on loan in 25-26 to build up experience.

Oliver Armstrong

Given he went out and got loan experience, this one doesn't surprise me either. He's a player that can play either at full back or in midfield. How close to the first team picture he'll be, I'm not sure, but with a bit of experience out on loan again, he could force his way into contention in 26-27.

Luca Moore

Another that isn't that surprising. With Owen Taylor still completing his scholarship, Moore will have to progress quickly and take his chance to shine. He got a sprinkling of first team minutes in 24-25 in the EFL Trophy and a short cameo against Barrow. I'm hopeful to see him play several times in the cups and like Dancey, get some loan experience with a view to seeing how quickly he can progress into the first team squad picture in 2026.

Jordan Hodkin

I'm not getting my hopes up with Hodkin. We've seen an ever increasing list of hot shot strikers who lit up youth team football come and go in Callum Saunders, Lewis Reilly and Connor Evans. Will Hodkin be any different? I sure hope so. The club are desperate for a home grown striker, but I won't get too excited about Hodkin just yet.

Loan expired

Filip Marschall, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Connor O'Riordan, Max Conway, Tommy Lowery

Unlike last season, where they lost very few difference makers from their 24-25 set of loanees, in losing Marschall, Conway, O'Riordan, Knight-Lebel and Lowery, they are losing players who were made key components of their starting XI. Those players will leave big holes, holes that will need filling.

General Retained List Thoughts

There are a lot of things to take away from this list. The first thing I will say is they I don't think any of their departing players will be big misses. That is very different from 12 months ago, when the looming departures of Rio Adebisi, Elliott Nevitt and Luke Offord gutted their team.

I include the loanees in that statement as well. Maybe I'm straw clutching, but whilst replacing the durability of the loanees will be tough, replacing their actual output should doable. Can they find a LB who was as good a dribbler as Conway? No. But can they find a player who can give them more than 3 goal contributions. I think so.

Can they find a keeper who can give them 16 clean sheets? No. But can they find a solid and dependable option who can play every week if asked? Well, given 3 of their last 4 loanees have been Okonkwo, Beadle and Marschall, the track record says yes they can.

Do they have enough to replace O'Riordan and Knight-Lebel at CB? Well, between Connolly, Billington and potentially Williams, yes. Do they have enough internally to replace Lowery? Hopefully so. I don't feel like they are much weaker now than they were a few weeks ago when all these players were still part of the squad.

Summer Transfer Window Shopping List

As usual, let's have a look at what the above decisions and see where that leaves them squad building wise. A credit goes to @Salopcast on Twitter for the inspiration behind this graphic:

So, let's have a look at what this does to their shopping list. I won't go into names, I'm making a separate piece on that. But I will look at what positions they need, assuming they stick with the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation they ended the season with:

GK

Much like a few other spots in the squad, we're back to the revolving door at keeper. I get the argument that they can't afford the established keepers as they cost too much money. And to be fair, their track record with loanees at this spot in the last 3 seasons has been good, with Okonkwo, Beadle and now Marschall being success stories, with only Davies as a poor signing. If they be be in the market for another young loanee to fill this spot, then hopefully teams should be lining up to throw their best prospects at the Alex, safe in the knowledge that they'll likely get plenty of game time.

RB

We probably underestimated just how much they needed help at this position 12 months ago, thinking Billington as a starter and Cooney as the back up would work. It didn't. Billo isn't a full back, he has no attacking instincts, but is solid defensively. Cooney is better going forward, but a liability at the back. But with Cooney gone, they need an upgrade at this spot.

RCB

I've said it before and I'll say it again, not signing an experienced defender 12 months ago and leaving Demetriou as the only player above the age of 24 back there was a huge mistake. They now have the chance to put that right. With Robinson likely needing a loan move to build up his fitness and game time and the questionable quality of Connolly (and Billington) to play on the right side of their defence, this is the perfect opportunity to right the wrong and sign a 26-32 year old CB who can take the leadership/organising pressure off Demetriou, who is starting to break down with injuries.

LB

Having Max Conway be an ever present on the left hand side was nice. Only problem was, he's a loanee, which means it's back to the drawing board to find a starting option here. Even if they do trust Finney to play this spot, he needs competition for a starting role. If they don't think he'll be more than a back up, they need an out and out starter.

CM

This one is debatable. Should Lunt, Armstrong and Moore sign their deals, between them and Sanders, Powell and Thomas, they do look relatively well stocked numbers wise in the middle. But it's not that simple. The management soured on Sanders and Powell towards the end of the season and we don't know if they will be moved on. Thomas is Thomas, with limited value and lots of injuries, but they love him, so he'll stick around. Then of course Lunt is still trying to establish himself whilst Moore and Armstrong are first year pros.

Do they need another CM? Some might say yes, some might say no. For me, all of the above options lack goals. Goals scored or goals created. In an ideal world, one of Powell, Thomas and Sanders would be moved on to free up space for a more creative/attack minded midfielder. Do the club move for one anyway? I think they should.

WG

A lot of fans are asking for pace and this could be the position to add it. Personally, I'm less bothered about this trait, as I think in L2 it's a substitute for actual ability. But if they do want to go out and find a quick option who can give them 5-10 goal contributions to play alongside Tabiner, Holicek and Lankester in, then that's fine with me. But actual productivity should be high on their list.

ST

The revolving door at striker continues too. I understood signing Hemmings, but signing Bogle was mistake. However, it's Hemmings who is out the door and Bogle who they are stuck with. Not ideal. It leaves them in the position of needing at least 1 established striker to come in and play upfront, as Bogle is highly unreliable. You could argue they need 2, but I can't see that being possible given the presence of Thibaut and the possible return of Tracey.

Conclusion

So, what to make of all this? Well, I think it puts them in a clear position recruitment wise. They assistance at virtually every spot in their team. They need, by my count, 1 keeper, 1 LB, 1 RB, an experienced CB, a CM who can add goals, a winger and a striker. Is that possible on their budget, given they only released 3 senior pros and they could yet keep 2 more in Williams and Tracey.

I do think their shopping list for permanent players will be small. 3, maybe 4 at most, will likely be their limit. For me, if that is all they can afford, then a keeper, CB and maybe a striker would be my choices. Then they can fill out the wide areas with loanees. Which in itself brings up another point.

They will likely be heavily reliant on the loan market again in 25-26. That is a double edged sword of course. It allows them to sign talent they wouldn't normally be able to afford on reduced wages. But in turn, should that talent shine, this risks a recall in January and leaves the club scrambling to find replacements. See Walsall with Nathan Lowe. See Cheltenham with Joel Colwill. Personally, knowing the playing budget is likely to be tightened, I think this is the route they will have no choice but to go down and take the risks.

They are in for a very interesting few weeks, with 8 players being offered deals, 1 being in discussions and the futures of several contracted players being in the balance I'd say. Let's see which dominoes fall first.