DAVE Artell says a delay has hit potential transfer business for Crewe.

The Alex boss has remained tight-lipped about the details behind the omissions of Charlie Kirk and Tommie Hoban from Saturday's 1-1 opening-day draw with Cheltenham.

Kirk is the subject of transfer interest with Charlton boss Nigel Adkins revealing the Addicks have been tracking the 23-year-old, who they moved for in last January's transfer window when Lee Bowyer was their manager. But other clubs may have shown their interest in the attacker, who signed a two-year contract with Crewe in June last year.

Kirk watched Saturday's game from the stands and he will not be involved again in tomorrow night's Caraboa Cup trip to Hartlepool (K.O 7pm).

The Alex boss said: "There's one or two things that have gone on behind the scenes that will delay the process regarding one player."

Crewe's last visit to 'Pools was a watershed in Artell's managerial stint at Crewe; the Railwaymen were thrashed 4-0 in February 2017 to heighten relegation fears from the EFL.

But it was Hartlepool who dropped into the National League. Under Artell Crewe have progressed from a 17th-placed finish that year to start a second campaign in League One, while the hosts have just returned to League Two under Dave Challinor's management.

Artell said: "We have made significant strides on the pitch since over the last four years. The last time we went to Hartlepool was under darker circumstances.

"Tomorrow we've got to make sure we match Hartlepool's quality and endeavour and show the gap between League One and League Two. They are back in the EFL, but we've gone forward and continue to go forward. We have to show our progress has been greater than theirs."

The Alex boss says it will take time for a revamped side to gel after several key departures, as well as the prolonged absence of contract rebel Tommy Lowery.

With new faces in Kane Ramsay, Callum McFadzean, Shaun MacDonald and Chris Long to bed in as well as inexperienced homegrown talent such as Rio Adebisi and Josh Lundstram, Artell admitted: "If someone described us as a work in progress I'd agree with them. We've got six or seven missing from last season and it will take a while to get up and running."

Long-term servant Dave Richards started the League One opener after Will Jaaskelainen's pre-season preparations were hit when he contracted Covid.

The Welsh keeper, who has had to take the role of understudy for much of his seven-year Crewe career, hopes his pre-season work can help him cement the first-choice spot between the sticks.

"I've worked hard over the summer, I've put on a few kilos in muscle and I came back in pre-season to give it a good go, " said Richards.

The keeper added: "Will and I get on really well together. He had a virus for a couple of weeks which knocked him back a little bit, but he's coming back now."