Crewe Alexandra Are League Two

It's been a season of ups and mostly downs and yesterday it was confirmed, the mighty Railwaymen have fallen to the basement league.

Whilst we were hoping against hope that results would go our way elsewhere, whilst we thrashed league Champions Leicester City, on the final day of the season it all ended a bit flat, no last minute Collis goal or super sub Tom Pope turning the game. Brighton and Carlisle won, we got thrashed and an hour into the match it was all over.

We depart League One with Hereford, Cheltenham and Northampton, off to tour League Two. Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Aldershot, Dagenham & Redbridge, Macclesfield, Barnet await... it's going to be a long hard 2009/2010.

Who knows what to expect in the lowest league, we haven't been there for 15 years. Some fans will undoubtedly take the view it'll be a stroll in the park but realistically what can we be looking at?

Julien Baudet, Michael O'Connor and Danny Woodards are all set to depart. Lawrence, Broomes, Ruddy & Sigurdsson depart after their loans expired, the latter two are certain not to return whilst Gudjon may face more of a fight to get Lawrence and Broomes on permanent deals.

And what else as the budget is slashed? Could we see the sale of John Brayford? Does Billy Jones want out? Can we afford the wages of Zola, Donaldson, Pope and Elding together or will one have to go?

Gudjon has talked about building a team for an immediate return to League One but we've heard it all before, only a couple of years ago we were hearing the same about a return to the Championship.

Fans are seemingly happy with Gudjon at the moment, despite ending the season on a 10 game winless streak his early form that saw us climb well outside the relegation zone has won the loyalty of most supporters. How long will that last depends on how he takes to League Two.

Anything other than a play-off push, rightly or wrongly, is not going to be tolerated by the majority of fans and Gudjon is no Dario, and unlike Steve Holland he won't be given more time than he needs. He's got to prove immediately he take get us out of League Two and if we're at the wrong end come Christmas he may well have to go.

Before then however he's got a long summer. If he can keep the right players, including Lawrence and Broomes, plus make a couple of shrewd signings then a solid season somewhere near the play-offs cannot be out of reach... can it?

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