Defender Williams entitled to assess options - Bell

Zac Williams made his debut for Crewe aged 17 in November 2021 and has made 124 appearances to date

Crewe Alexander manager Lee Bell says the current standoff with defender Zac Williams over a new contract is something the player is "allowed" and "entitled" to do.

The Wales Under-21 international is a graduate of the League Two club's academy and has not yet signed the new deal offered at the end of last season.

Under English Football League rules, because 21-year-old Williams is under 24, if he moves to another club as a free agent, Crewe will be entitled to a transfer fee which will be decided by a tribunal if no agreement can be reached.

"The rules say he's allowed to be in this position," Lee told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's doing what he's entitled to do, so let's just leave him alone.

"He's a young lad and he's doing what's right within his employment contract."

Williams, who is currently trying to manage a slight back problem, signed the last of his contracts with the Alex in May 2022.

The club then triggered a one-year extension at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Bell says although he would prefer to have had Williams' future secured, he has no complaints over how the situation is being handled by those involved.

"Would I have liked him to have signed a contract? Yes, I would've liked to have got it done and dusted," he said.

"He's working hard and we're in constant dialogue with his agent, who's been open and transparent, which is all we've asked for.

"I've had good conversations with Zac so I'm just going to leave it there because the conversation [about his future] is going to come about until he signs for somebody or signs for us.

"I can understand people's frustrations with it but these structures are put in place by the Football League and we all agree to them. But we will get to a point in the end where it's resolved."

Bell still after more signings

Meanwhile, Bell has also confirmed the club continues to be "active" in terms of looking at signing more players.

With midfielders Joel Tabiner and Max Sanders and forward Shilow Tracey out injured, Bell said there are still "gaps" to fill in his squad.

"We're active, we're looking but we've got to make sure we get the right people and the right deals," he said.

Crewe have signed six new players ahead of the new League Two season, which starts away at Salford City on Saturday.