First team coach Steve Holland has been quick to dispel false speculation linking us with Cheltenham Town defender Gavin Caines and the former Northampton Town midfielder Joe Burnell. Both players have recently been quoted suggesting that they rejected offers from Crewe Alexandra and that has understandably angered Holland and his coaching staff.

Steve Holland has put it down to mischief making by agents, and has been quick to let Alex fans know that we were not interested in signing either player. The club's first-team coach does have some more targets in mind, but he is annoyed that our name has been used in contract negotiations elsewhere in relation to players we had no interest in.

Steve told crewealex.net: "This appears to be the work of the agents. It now seems that if an agent ever calls you asking if you would be interested in a certain player, then that qualifies as us being interested. It is the way it is nowadays.

"I can categorically say that we were not interested in signing either Caines nor Burnell (who has joined non-league side Oxford). To suggest that we were or had made them an offer is completely false."