BELL LOOKS SHORT TERM TO PICK UP ALEX POINTS
CREWE Alex interim manager Lee Bell says his focus is on Saturday’s game at home to Colchester amid questions about getting the job long term.
Former assistant boss Bell has taken charge of the first team after Alex Morris decided to step down and become assistant, a decision made on compassionate grounds following a family bereavement.
Bell’s reign began with Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to Leyton Orient in the FA Cup first round, providing some momentum for this weekend as Crewe return to League Two action.
Asked about the job and potential discussions with chairman Charles Grant and the board, he said: “I am going to concentrate on Saturday and the rest of this week, look forward to the game on Saturday and get the players ready. I am sure the club will keep the fans updated with any news moving forward.”
He was appointed interim boss on Friday when the club announced Morris’ decision. Morris and Bell, who both coached in the club’s academy system, took over the first team at the end of April when Dave Artell lost his job following relegation from League One.
Bell has made clear he is enjoying the challenge of managing the side, saying: “I am energised by it. Excited by the challenge and excited to see what I can add to the group in terms of things I want to try to evolve and move on a little bit.
“It is definitely more excitement than being in a whirlwind still. I am enjoying it and looking forward to it.”
He says one area he and the coaches will be looking to improve is creativity in the team.
He said: “It is evolving from the good base we have got. It is working with the goalscorers and I want the flair players to express themselves more and take more risks on the pitch.
“They won’t be, and they haven’t been, criticised for attempting stuff that doesn’t quite come off. If they keep playing safe then we may as well play with four central midfield players than play with some attacking flair. We want more and will demand more from those types of players.”
The interim manager is also pleased to have the support and experience of Morris as his assistant.
He said: “The change hasn’t happened because of football reasons. Alex was adamant he wanted to stay on to do what he wanted to do. We had a really long conversation on Thursday and Friday last week with a lot of deliberation.
“He is going to be important to me. It will stay between us but we had a conversation about what is expected of each other. I am lucky that I am going to have someone who can deliver what he can out on the training pitch.”
Bell has given an update on injuries. Courtney Baker-richardson was left out of the Leyton Orient game as a precaution after picking up a knock but was due to train on Tuesday. Meanwhile, fellow striker Chris Long has only made one appearance, at the start of September, because of an ankle injury.
Bell said: “With Courtney, I didn’t think it was worth the risk of having him missing for a long period. We have a small squad as it is. He is our top goalscorer and we want him fit so we will assess that again later in the week.
“With Longy, we have had a lot of conversations and he has been near and then not been. I have spoken to the physios and we will come up with a plan for Longy to get him fit. He will probably do a mini pre-season to get him right up to speed. What we don’t want is to have him playing for 20 minutes and then getting injured and then we don’t see him again for a few weeks.
“We may as well sacrifice another week knowing we are going to get him for a longer period.”
· CREWE have been drawn away to Barnsley in the FA Cup second round. The tie is due to take place on the weekend of Saturday, November 26.
· CREWE’S FA Youth Cup second round tie at Grimsby has been arranged for Tuesday, November 15 (7pm) at Blundell Park.