[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra have signed Huddersfield Town midfielder Josh Austerfield on loan for the second half of the season.

Austerfield, 22, has made 54 first-team appearances for the Terriers.

He has had three loan moves, two at Harrogate in League Two, then for the second half of last season trying in vain to keep Morecambe in League One.

He is the Alex's second signing of the January transfer window.

But they have lost September deadline day loan signing Joe White, who has returned to Premier League club Newcastle United following the expiry of his agreement on 14 January, having scored three times in 25 appearances.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe "wants to assess" White, who Alex boss Lee Bell would like to re-sign "if the opportunity arises".

Crewe assistant manager Ryan Dicker told BBC Radio Stoke: "Josh has had two good loan spells before and has also played in the Championship.

"He has an excellent profile. He gets around the pitch really well. He ticks a lot of boxes and I don't think it will take him long to fit in. A good player is a good player."

Austerfield joins a side with hopes of an immediate return to the third tier after last season's relegation to League Two.

Crewe are fifth in League Two, in the play-off zone, and just three points behind third-placed Mansfield Town.

Crewe assistant manager Ryan Dicker was talking to BBC Radio Stoke's Graham McGarry.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra have made two deadline day signings, bringing in Brighton defender Ed Turns on loan and re-signing striker Charlie Kirk.

Turns, 21, was recalled from his previous loan with League One side Leyton Orient, while Kirk, 26, was a free agent after leaving Charlton Athletic before Christmas.

Youth product Kirk helped the Alex win promotion to League One in 2020.

After making his debut in February 2016, he scored 32 goals for Crewe.

But, since leaving Gresty Road for Charlton in August 2021, he has netted only six more, either for the Addicks, or in loan spells at Blackpool and Burton Albion. His new Crewe deal is until the end of the season.

Welshman Turns had made 17 appearances for Orient this season in his second spell at Brisbane Road, having first joined the East London side on loan in January 2023 and helping them win promotion to League One.

The Wales Under-21 international has made just two first-team appearances for Brighton, neither of them in the Premier League.

Crewe, who reportedly also failed in a bid to sign Crawley midfielder Ronan Darcy, are down on numbers with four players on the long-term injury list.

Midfielders Jack Powell (knee) and Owen Lunt (back) remain out, while defender Zac Williams has aggravated his ankle injury in training, but Joel Tabiner, who has been sidelined since October with an ankle injury, has stepped up his rehabilitation programme.

[themaclad]

Former Republic of Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood
Keiren Westwood's most recent game in EFL football was a 1-0 defeat for QPR at Stoke in April 2022
Crewe have signed 39-year-old former Republic of Ireland keeper Keiren Westwood on a short-term contract.

The ex-Carlisle United, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland man has not played since a short-term deal at Queens Park Rangers in early 2022.

He comes in as cover for first choice Tom Booth, who was injured in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Tranmere.

Westwood will be on the bench for promotion-chasing Crewe's League Two home game with Crawley on Saturday.

On-loan Harvey Davies, who started the season as number one, will return as first choice in goal.

"I'm grateful to the club who have been good to me," Westwood told BBC Radio Stoke. "I am excited about the challenge, but I'm just here to help the team."

Teenager Booth, who had been in solid form since getting his first-team chance just before Christmas, suffered a punctured lung when diving at the feet of Tranmere striker Charlie Jolley.

Manchester-born Westwood, who won 21 Irish caps, has made 519 appearances since starting his career in 2003 with Manchester City when Kevin Keegan was in charge.

He has been keeping himself fit for the last year by training with Crewe, who sit fifth in League Two, just two points adrift of the third automatic promotion place.

Is 39 still young for a keeper?
In the history of professional football, 39 is still no age for a keeper.

The great Dino Zoff famously lifted the World Cup at the age of 40, while the likes of Peter Shilton, John Burridge and Dave Beasant played until well into their forties.

Former England international Ben Foster became the latest high-profile example when he came out of retirement to sign for Wrexham in March 2023, just 11 days short of his 40th birthday, only to retire again five months later after helping them to promotion.

Many have also come back as stand-in keepers, to sit on the bench in times of crisis.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra centre-back Mickey Demetriou has signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2025.

The 33-year-old joined from Newport County last summer having turned down a fresh offer to stay in south Wales.

Having joined the Alex initially on a one-year contract with the option of a 12-month extension, Demetriou has now taken up that option.

Demetriou has played all 33 games this season in League Two, weighing in with eight goals in all competitions.

Crewe sit fourth in League Two, one point behind the automatic promotion positions, ahead of Saturday's trip to Notts County.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra midfielder Conor Thomas has signed a new two-year deal with the club.

Thomas has made 78 appearances for the League Two side since signing from Cheltenham Town two years ago.

The 30-year-old former Coventry City and Swindon Town player had a loan spell at Liverpool as a teenager, without playing a senior game.

His new deal will keep him at Crewe until the summer of 2026.

Crewe face Doncaster in a two-legged play-off semi-final after finishing sixth in the league table.

They will host the first leg on Monday, 6 May before the return at Doncaster on 10 May.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra have released five players following their near-miss in the League Two promotion play-offs.

Welsh defender Billy Sass-Davies, who spent the season on loan at Boreham Wood, fellow defender Zak Kempster-Down, midfielder Charlie Colkett and strikers Charlie Kirk and Max Woodcock are all leaving.

But five players - defenders Rio Adebisi and defender Luke Offord, midfielder Chris Long and strikers Courtney Baker-Richardson and top scorer Elliott Nevitt - have all been offered new deals.

The club have also triggered a clause for an extension in 20-year-old defender Zac Williams' contract, while six on-loan players - goalkeepers Harvey Davies (Liverpool) and Max Stryjek (Wycombe), defender Ed Turns (Brighton), midfielder Lewis Leigh (Preston) and Huddersfield Town midfielders Josh Austerfield and Aaron Rowe - have all returned to their parent clubs.

The Alex have also offered professional contracts to two of their Academy scholars, Nathan Robinson and Lucas Sant.

The 2024-25 season will be boss Lee Bell's second full season in charge, after taking over from Alex Morris in November 2022.

Crewe only won two of their last 12 games to fall out of automatic promotion contention as they finished sixth.

Bell's men then memorably turned round a 2-0 semi-final first-leg deficit to beat Doncaster Rovers on penalties in the second leg, only to lose 2-0 against Crawley in the final at Wembley last Sunday.

[themaclad]

Gillingham have signed striker Elliott Nevitt from Crewe Alexandra on a permanent transfer.

The 27-year-old top scored for Crewe this season as the Cheshire club reached the League Two play-off final.

Nevitt scored 18 goals in 73 games for the Railwaymen and turned down the offer of a new contract to become Mark Bonner's first signing as Gills manager.

"I am a player that gives everything, I give my all, I like to score goals and I believe in myself," Nevitt told the Gillingham website., external

Nevitt scored 14 goals for Tranmere Rovers in 73 matches for the Super Whites from 2021 to 2023 before moving to Crewe last summer.

The length of his contract has not been specified.

Gillingham finished the 2023-24 season 12th in League Two.

[themaclad]

Crewe striker Chris Long has signed a new one-year contract at the League Two club.

The 29-year-old ex-Burnley and Blackpool forward joined the Alex from Scottish club Motherwell in July 2021.

He scored nine goals last season as Crewe finished sixth in the table and reached the play-off final at Wembley, where they were beaten 2-0 by Crawley.

The former England Under-20 international has scored 22 goals in 69 league appearances for the Railwaymen to date.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra have signed experienced striker Kane Hemmings on a 12-month contract, with an option for a further year.

Hemmings had been in talks with previous club Stevenage about a new deal but has instead opted to join the Railwaymen as a free agent.

He scored seven goals in 40 appearances for Boro last season.

The 32-year-old is Crewe's first summer signing and his arrival follows last month's departure of Elliott Nevitt to Gillingham.

Having started his professional career in Scotland with Rangers, he has since played for Cowdenbeath, Barnsley, Dundee, Oxford United, Notts County, Burton Albion and Tranmere.

[themaclad]

Crewe Alexandra have made their second summer signing by bringing in teenage Bristol City defender Jamie Knight-Lebel on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old follows the arrival of experienced striker Kane Hemmings.

The Alex have lost two players since being in the League Two play-off final in May - former captain Luke Offord and striker Elliott Nevitt to Gillingham.

Knight-Lebel, a Canada Under-20 international who signed a new three-year deal with the Robins in March, has a January recall clause in his loan deal with Crewe.