Shilow Tracey’s Crewe Stay a Boost as Bell Eyes Further Signings

Crewe Alexandra boss Lee Bell has hailed Shilow Tracey's new contract as a "huge boost" as the club prepares for the final push in the summer transfer window.

Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

Tracey, 27, penned a new one-year deal last week, which includes an option for a further season. The forward missed the final two months of the 2023–24 campaign after suffering a broken leg but remains firmly in the club's plans.

"I'm absolutely delighted. It's a brilliant decision by the club," Bell said. "They backed our judgement, and keeping Shilow is a massive bonus. You saw the difference when we lost him — his impact was clear."

Tracey had netted six goals last season, with his final strike coming in a 3–1 win at Chesterfield in March that pushed Crewe into the play-off places. However, just one win in the club's final 11 games saw their promotion hopes unravel, beginning with a 4–1 defeat to Fleetwood Town — a game that marked the end of Tracey's season.

Although there's no set timeline for his return, Bell says Tracey is progressing well.

"He looks incredibly fit, but we're still waiting on a specialist's opinion in the next couple of weeks," Bell explained. "I don't want to be answering weekly questions about his fitness. We'll step things up when he's ready, but there's no rush. We want him back right."

Tracey's extension is part of a wider summer rebuild at Gresty Road. He joins fellow returnees in committing their futures to the club, alongside four new additions: midfield loanee Tommi O'Reilly from Aston Villa, goalkeeper Sam Waller, striker Josh March, and full-back Reece Hutchinson.

But the business isn't done yet.

Bell confirmed that Crewe are actively working to bring in four more signings before the season kicks off against Salford City on 2 August.

"There's a lot going on behind the scenes," he said. "We're targeting four new faces. Whether we get there remains to be seen, but we're in constant talks — lots of phone calls, lots of watching, and plenty of conversations with our recruitment team."

With just under two weeks until the new League Two season begins, the focus at Crewe is clear: build a balanced squad, manage Tracey's return carefully, and reignite last season's early promise.