Fans will not force Dario Gradi to quit as Crewe Alex boss

Gradi's Crewe face Oldham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday

Crewe manager Dario Gradi has said he will not take any notice of supporters that have called for him to step down.

The Alex were jeered from the field after a 3-0 home defeat by Torquay.

"They weren't booing the players. they were booing me," Gradi, 70, told BBC Radio Stoke. "That's up to them but I won't leave this club because of them.

"I shall hand over when it suits or when somebody else tells me that it's time to go. It certainly won't be because of the supporters."

Saturday's defeat leaves Crewe 18th in League Two and six points above the relegation zone.

"They didn't respond but maybe they couldn't," said the Crewe boss. "Maybe it was my fault because I thought they could do something that they couldn't do."

Gradi was named Crewe manager in 1983 and spent 24 years in the role, winning promotion to the second tier and nurturing several future internationals.

Steve Holland and Gudjon Thordarson failed to replicate Gradi's earlier success in their short spells in charge and Gradi, who had remained at the club as technical director, returned as manager in October 2009.

Crewe play two cup ties before their next match in League Two. The Alex go to Oldham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday, before a home game against Colchester in the first round of the FA Cup.