Crewe still have targets this season - Bell

Crewe Alexandra boss Lee Bell says his squad should not have "any ceiling" on what they want to achieve this season and next despite missing out on the League Two play-offs. Although the Alex cannot finish in the top seven, they could end the season in ninth place if they win their final two matches - away to Chesterfield on Saturday and home against Cambridge United on 2 May - and other results go their way. Not counting the Covid-shortened season in 2019-20, that would only be the third time Crewe have finished in the top 10 in the last 10 seasons in League Two.

After scoring 64 goals so far, if they can net six in their last two matches, that would be their highest return in any division since 2010-11, and two wins would give them their highest points total since they won the League Two play-off final in 2011-12. "There's still some good targets. We could reach 72 points, the highest in so many years, and goals scored," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke.

"It's not about just turning up and hoping you can get through the next 10 days. The fans will demand that our players don't do that. " Bell cites squad depth as Crewe miss play-off shot Tracey had doubts over career during year out with injury We still want to be in play-off conversation - Bell Crewe players 'learnt' from past failures - Holíček Bell added: "Ultimately, it's down to where you finish in the league and what points you can get.

But it is getting tougher. "We work on the real bottom end of the budget and that gap between where we operate and where the other teams operate is getting bigger every year. " Bell said he has had an initial chat with technical director Josh Kennard over plans for next season and a meeting with the club's board is scheduled to review the current campaign.