CREWE Alex fans have been paying tribute to boss Dave Artell after he was crowned LMA Manager of the Year in League Two last night.

Artell was recognised for his achievement getting the Railwaymen promoted back to League One after a four-year absence by the manager's body.

The former Crewe skipper was appointed at Gresty Road in January 2017 after serving a spell as the club's Academy Manager and was charged with halting a decline that had seen three consecutive relegation battles.

After a stellar campaign Crewe were top of League Two when the season was suspended in March. They were finally placed second behind Swindon on a points per game basis, but the promotion was celebrated enthusiastically in a behind-closed-doors event at their Reaseheath training ground last month.

Expectant fans can't wait until the new season scheduled for a September 12 kick-off starts and took to Twitter to congratulate Artell.

Iain Perry wrote: "So richly deserved. A harder working manager for a football team you will not find. So proud of him and the fact he is our manager."

Phil B tweeted: "Thoroughly deserved. No better judge than rival gaffers ! They know what you see is what you get with Dave Artell - no matter how passionate he was for 90 minutes there was always a drink and a genuine guy waiting afterwards."

Sarah Sinclair praised: "Well deserved!! Considering the budget he has had against the other clubs at the top!"

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Paul Martyn Howes said: "Well deserved, stuck to his guns, principles and belief in the youth, calls a spade a spade."

There was even praise from rivals with Pete Moss tweeting: "As a Rival and port vale fan. Well done."