Stoke City coach Rich Walker has emerged as a candidate for the vacant managerial job with Crewe Alexandra, a report from Cheshire Live has claimed.

Crewe have lost 15 of their last 16 games in League One, which saw their relegation to League Two confirmed in the wake of a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers at the weekend.

In the wake of that major setback, Crewe announced earlier in the week that they had sacked manager David Artell, meaning they are now looking for a new figure to take charge of the Railwaymen.

According to this latest update, one option to fill that role is Walker, who is no stranger to Crewe Alexandra.

Having joined the club as a youth player, the former centre back made 115 appearances in all competitions for Crewe, during a spell with the club's first-team between 1999 and 2006.

Walker has been working as a coach with Stoke since 2009, taking over the Potters' Under 18s side in 2018, developing a reputation for both helping players through to senior football, and competing for trophies at youth level.

However, this report now suggests that Walker could be set for a step into senior management with Crewe, with the 41-year-old said to be ambitious in his coaching aims.

The Verdict

This may not be a bad appointment for Crewe if they are able to secure the services of Walker.

The squad at Crewe is a relatively young one, and the club do have a history of a number of strong talents graduating from their academy.

As a result, bringing in a manager such as Walker, who has a proven track record of helping young player makes the step up to senir level, could prove to be a smart move for the club.

Indeed, you feel it will be a tough task to get Crewe back on track after recent form, and the disappointment of relegation, so someone who does have experience of success, even if it is at Under 18s level, is unlikely to be the worth option for the Railwaymen.