CREWE Alex's hopes of getting fans back into Gresty Road received backing from MP Kieran Mullan in a Parliamentary debate today.

The MP spoke up for the club as MPs discussed an e-petition carrying nearly 200,000 signatures calling for fans to be allowed to attend matches at all levels.

Eight pilot games were held during September in which fans were let into restricted capacity stadiums. Crewe's home game with MK Dons on September 26 was mooted to be one, but the scheme was abandoned due to rising infection rates.

Now there are fears that the second national lockdown will put back moves to provide a road map out of the crisis, which with the rejection of an initial Premier League support package, has left lower league clubs living a hand to mouth existence.

Describing the club as the "mighty Crewe Alex", the MP made an impassioned and historical appeal when he pointed out: "Crewe Alex have made a huge effort to make their stadium Covid-secure.

"Founded in 1877 it has been at the heart of my constituency for 143 years. We must ensure the coronavirus is not the final chapter in the club's history.

"Crewe Alex fans are totally dedicated to their club, even becoming shareholders and gaining a place on the board. We cannot underestimate how important football clubs are to their fans."

The Crewe and Nantwich MP said that improvements to the track and trace system should be considered when planning when fans could be readmitted.

But Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said the key issue was not about "fans sitting in stadia, but the whole fan journey and the risks of gatherings".

The debate also heard from about the problems elsewhere in the hospitality industry locally when former Crewe and Nantwich MP, Edward Timpson, now Eddisbury's representative, revealed how the wedding trade had collapsed at Dorfold Hall near Nantwich where only four weddings were hosted all summer.

• Meanwhile, tonight's FA cup second round draw saw Crewe handed an away trip to League Two Cheltenham on the weekend of November 28/29.