DAVE Artell has paid tribute to John Bowler after the passing of the former Crewe Alex chairman.

The Alex announced Mr Bowler's death, aged 85, yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

He appointed Artell to his first managerial role when he made him Steve Davis' successor just over five years ago. And the Crewe boss was quick to highlight Mr Bowler's role in building the club into a modern-day outfit in partnership with long-serving former manager Dario Gradi, as well as his generous personality.

"John was kind and intelligent, he was a gentleman and he was everything you would want from a boss. He was a lovely guy," said the the Alex manager.

"He was as sharp as a tack and he knew everything about the football industry and the [pharmaceutical] industry that he was in before.

"He built this football club to what it is today and the fans and everyone else should be grateful for his contribution."

Mr Bowler served the club for more than four decades, joining as a director in 1980 and taking on the role of chairman in 1987.

Under his stewardship the club won promotion in 1989, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2012 and 2020 and won the Johnstone's Paints Trophy in 2013.

He stepped down last March in the wake of the Sheldon review into child sexual abuse in football which criticised Crewe for not doing more to prevent serial paedophile Barry Bennell's crimes.

His successor was the club's then vice-chairman Charles Grant.

The Alex said their "thoughts were very much with the Bowler family" at such a sad time.

Meanwhile, Artell insists Crewe still have everything to play for despite Tuesday night's defeat (0-2) at Wigan leaving them bottom of League One and nine points adrift of safety.

The manager saw encouraging signs of improvement among his players against the Latics after two back-to-back 4-1 reverses against Plymouth and Accrington and believes if they remain as competitive, starting with the visit of Portsmouth on Saturday (K.O 3pm), they are sure to win some of their remaining 14 games.

"We've got everything to play for and this season isn't done now. We've got to make sure that we go and try and win all the 14 games and if we do that we will win some of them," he said.

"The end of season review is going to offer a lot of insight. There are plenty of reasons we are in the predicament that we are in but that is all chip shop paper now. We've got 14 games ahead of us and we've got to try and get as much out of them as we can."

On-loan Arsenal youngster Ryan Alebiosu is a doubt for the Pompey game after suffering a back spasm at Wigan, but the manager still hopes to include the right-sided defender in his plans.

Meanwhile, sidelined attacker Scott Kashket is having his medical boot removed tomorrow while midfielder Madger Gomes has made a return to training after some non-football related issues.