Alex future in academy hands, says Gradi (From Crewe Guardian)

Alex future in academy hands, says Gradi

5:52pm Thursday 28th May 2009

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DARIO Gradi insists Crewe need to look to their academy graduates to help them rebound from relegation to League Two.

The Alex technical director has revealed most of his schoolboys and scholars have re-signed for the club, among them several players he believes are good enough to feature in the first team in the future.

Although five of the eight players released by Crewe manager Gudjon Thordarson after this month's demotion were products of the youth system, Gradi believes its star names will continue to guarantee future financial security for the club.

Mark Carrington, Chris McCready, Stuart Tomlinson, Josh Thompson, Luke Danville all left the club after Thordarson's recent cull, but other ex-scholars, like Luke Murphy, Danny Shelley and Ashley Westwood, have all featured in the Icelander's team.

"I think we will continue to rely more and more on our academy. It's where we should be getting our better players from," said Gradi. "It's what we have done in the past and those players usually generate the most money.

"What is encouraging from our point of view is that although we had a disappointing season at first-team level, all of the Academy boys have re-signed."

Gradi is currently finalising deals for several of his current crop of scholars. Striker Alex Titchener and midfielder Ben Marshall are among those who have stood out in an under 18s side that finished fourth in a tough regional league that also includes the Manchester United and Liverpool youth teams.

Former Nantwich Town defender Kelvin Mellor, who was often involved at reserve-team level, is already on professional forms.

"We have some high flyers in there," added Gradi.

"The fact the boys have re-signed has given the staff a great lift. It's a great vote of confidence in Crewe because you do worry they could be tempted elsewhere in this day and age."

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