DAVE Artell says a double transfer swoop on the eve of the season would not have been possible without the "youthful exuberance" of Crewe's new board.

The Alex boss completed impressive deals for homegrown midfielder Luke Murphy and ex-Shrewsbury defender Omar Beckles today (Friday), with the pair swelling the number of new recruit to five as Crewe make a bold statement ahead of the new League One campaign.

The boardroom at Gresty Road has seen more changes this year than it has over decades with major shareholder Norman Hassall bought out by a deal which has seen new directors, including fans representative Mark Beavan, installed.

Artell recognised the behind-the-scenes financial work that helped get the deals for Murphy and Beckles over the line.

"I can't thank the board enough for what they have done. I don't know whether that is youthful exuberance on their part as some of them are new to the game and to the football club or whether they understand the significance of it," said Artell. "Either way they deserve huge credit for backing what we are trying to do.

"To get a calibre of player such as Murph is a terrific achievement for this football club. He is only 30, he is a million-pound player, they don't rock up at Crewe every year.

"Is he over the hill? Not from what we've seen for the last four or five weeks since. While he's got to get back to his best, I've made that explicitly clear and he's relishing the challenge."

Murphy has featured in Crewe's pre-season programme, playing against his former club a week ago. He admits the only worry he had before penning a two-year deal was whether his return to Gresty Road might "taint" the memories of his previous success.

Murphy said: "It sounds daft as I love this place so much and people said that it should be an easy answer, which it was in the end. But there were thoughts in my head about the success we had in the last two years of my time here that to then come back and for things not to quite go the same way it would taint the memory.

"But after coming in and training and seeing the standard of the lads it gives me great hope we can one step further."

While Murphy is looking forward to tomorrow's behind-closed-doors clash with League One Lincoln, Beckles will not feature. After leaving Shrewsbury he has spent part of the summer training with Wigan, but is short of match fitness.

Another new signing Mikael Mandron is out of the treatment room and was fit enough to play in Wednesday's final warm-up at Kidsgrove (1-1), where he scored from the spot.

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton has also been busy adding three new faces (today) with the signing of midfielder Remy Howarth while goalkeeper Alex Palmer and striker Callum Morton have joined both on loan from West Brom.

Experienced midfielder Liam Bridcutt and former Crewe midfielder James Jones were among Appleton's previous summer business.

Artell said of the Lincoln game: "It will be a good barometer for us to see where are at. In terms of how we play, personnel and understanding. It is our first game for six months and I know the fans are not in which is not what we want in an ideal world it is still a competitive game."

The Crewe boss has also spent the latter part of this week tying up fresh deals for homegrown youngsters Harry Pickering and Oli Finney.

On those, he said: "I think Oli has only had 20 starts but he's had a terrific impact. He's got an unbelievable knack of being in the right place in the opposition box."

"Harry understands what we've done for him. He works his socks off and he is a terrific professional. We are delighted with both those bits (of business). Christmas has happened on September 4 this year."