Crewe Alexandra Braced For Potential Significant Exit

Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell is reportedly being eyed by Carlisle United as a potential replacement for Paul Simpson, as reported by Football Insider.

Simpson’s troubled tenure with the Cumbrian club ended over the weekend following their defeat against Tranmere Rovers. Carlisle, seeking to rejuvenate their season after a poor start, are said to be keen on bringing Bell in to steer the team forward.

Bell, 41, has deep roots with the Railwaymen, having come through their youth system and spent much of his playing career in the lower leagues of English football, including two spells with Crewe. After hanging up his boots in 2015 following a second stint with Macclesfield Town, Bell transitioned into coaching, initially taking charge of Crewe’s Under-18s before stepping up as interim manager and eventually securing the permanent role at the end of 2022.

In his first full season as Crewe’s manager, Bell guided the club to an impressive sixth-place finish, leading them to the play-off final where they narrowly missed out on promotion to Crawley Town. Despite a challenging start to the current campaign, Bell has earned recognition as one of the most promising young managers in the English Football League.

Bell’s managerial record at Crewe includes 93 matches, with a win percentage of 37%. His approach has been characterised by tactical versatility and pragmatism; he’s skilled at switching formations and tactics depending on the opponent.

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Crewe have already demonstrated their flexibility this season, employing various formations across their matches against Barrow, Chesterfield, Swindon Town, and Bromley. Bell has also forged a strong defensive unit, with Crewe recording 13 clean sheets last season, just four shy of the league’s best. Additionally, Crewe outperformed their expected goals (xG) statistic, scoring 69 goals from an xG of 59.6, highlighting their clinical finishing under Bell’s guidance.

Off the pitch, Bell has worked to build a strong team spirit at Crewe, an aspect he believes was crucial to their resilience last season. With Carlisle United currently languishing in 20th place in League Two, with just one win to their name, the need for a managerial change is apparent and Lee Bell, given his success with Crewe, could be the right man to help Carlisle rise up the table and realise their ambitions for the season.