Crewe sack manager David Artell following their relegation from League One

Crewe have sacked manager David Artell following their relegation from League One.

The Alex were consigned to the drop with four games to spare when they lost to fellow strugglers Doncaster on Saturday.

It was the club’s eighth successive defeat and 15th in their last 16 league games.

Crewe have named assistant manager Alex Morris as interim boss.

“Crewe Alexandra can confirm that the club is parting company with first-team manager David Artell,” read a club statement on Crewe’s website.

“The club would like to thank David for his substantial contribution, both as first-team manager and in his previous role as head of academy.

“Alex Morris and Lee Bell have been appointed first-team manager and assistant respectively, on an interim basis.”

Artell, a former Crewe player, was appointed as the club’s manager in January 2017 and kept them in League Two that year.

He led the club to promotion during the coronavirus-affected 2019-20 campaign before they finished 12th last season.

But they struggled this term and, despite Artell vowing to remain in the job until “somebody tells me otherwise” after Saturday’s defeat, Crewe decided to move on.

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