Crewe captain Demetriou signs contract extension

Mickey Demetriou did not make his EFL debut until he was 24 - but he is now just nine short of 400 appearances

Crewe Alexandra captain Mickey Demetriou has signed a new deal with the promotion-chasing League Two club.

The 35-year-old former Kidderminster Harriers, Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United and Newport County defender has put pen to paper on a one-year contract, with an option for a further year.

Demetriou turned down the offer of a new deal with Newport in the summer of 2023 to join Crewe, when he signed an initial one-year agreement, with the option of a 12-month extension.

Having taken up that option, his current deal was due to run out this summer but he is now signed up at least until 2026.

Last year's player of the season has missed eight games since the turn of the year with a calf injury, but he returned on Saturday as the Alex earned a point against promotion rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Ahead of this Saturday's lunchtime derby date with Port Vale, Lee Bell's Alex sit ninth in League Two, six points shy of an automatic promotion place with eight games remaining - and only a point off the play-off places.