Lee Bell's honest Crewe admission ahead of Walsall clash

Crewe had propelled themselves into play-off contention just after the turn of the year but have collected three wins from their last 19 games to slump into 12th. 

The Railwaymen sit six points adrift of the top seven heading into their final fixture at home to Walsall following a dismal run of four defeats in five games.

The Crewe boss said: "I fully appreciate it's not good enough and I know what Crewe fans will be saying. 

"I know what they were saying last week and that's rightly so but I feel I'm the right person to put it right and be able to move forward. 

"Because if you take away the last 17 to 18 games, I think we've been quite successful so that's the aim.

"What it has been about is trying to get where we want to for next season. We know we've been having in-depth conversations about what might happen. 

"We then need to go along with that plan in terms of bringing in fresh faces."

Tom Lowery and Zac Williams will both be suspended on the final day after the Crewe pair were shown red cards during their 2-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers last weekend.

Crewe also remain without Shilow Tracey and Jack Lankester who are both sidelined with long-term injuries. 

Tracey, who scored in a 2-2 draw at Gresty Road in the corresponding fixture in September 2023, suffered a broken leg in March. 

Meanwhile, Lankester picked up a knee injury at Bradford City at the start of April and was forced to undergo surgery to repair a tear in a meniscus in his right knee.