Loan Pair Return To Clubs

Elliott Bennett and Lee Barnard have both left Crewe after their loan periods expired, and deals to extend their stays now look unlikely as Crewe may explore other possible targets.

Only yesterday Technical Director Dario Gradi announced there was money for the club to spend in the transfer window but only if the right players came available, and that so far we have no specific targets.

So to let both Bennett and Barnard go, two players who have vastly improved the quality of the side when they have played, without so much as a hint we would like to extend their loans is very surprising news to Alex fans.

If Simon Church`s loan also were not to be renewed when it is up come mid January, Crewe would be left with only 3 recognised out and out strikers in Maynard, Miller and Pope.

If the Alex are looking to the loan market again for different forwards then surely they wouldn`t be able to find much better than the exiting Barnard, who scored 3 goals in 10 appearances and on his day looked a class above this level.

Clearly there must be targets in place, or a plan of action the management team have produced for January that they are not letting on, because if there isn`t an already ailing Crewe team is going to be looking thin on the ground come early February.