CREWE FC have agreed a deal with Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council to play at the Cumberland Arena for the next 10 years.

The club's technical director, Pat Slack, said: 'We are delighted the Cumberland Arena will be our home for the next decade. We also have an agreement about a roll-on at the end of this period.

'At the end of the coming season we will have a new pitch laid, and by that time we may have had a response from the Football Foundation about other developments at the complex.'

Slack added that the club is about to embark on a three-year development plan.

'We are a very progressive club and Ian O'Reilly, Paul Lowe, Martin Gordon and Clive Barnett are putting together three senior teams that will underpin our targets of participation in a higher league,' he explained.

'We are establishing a Community Initiative Scheme which already sees us working with more than 30 children from the Cheshire Academy of Integrated Sport and Arts.'

O'Reilly saw plenty of reasons to be optimistic after Saturday's friendlies against New Brighton.

The club's senior team lost 3-0 while the reserve side went down 3-1.

But despite the reverses, O'Reilly is upbeat as he plans for the season ahead.

'It was a fruitful exercise,' he said. 'We had about 30 players to have a look at in all and considering we are probably two weeks behind New Brighton in our preparations, it was a good afternoon.

'I would expect us to be beating teams like them once we kick-off the season but, to be fair, they were a useful side and deserved their victories.'

O'Reilly has his eye on a right-sided midfielder and plans talks this week.

'He's quick and would give us extra quality, but I need to make sure he can play regularly.'

Striker Lee Westwood will not be fit for the big kick-off next month as he has yet to recover from an ankle injury which saw him miss the final few matches of last season.

O'Reilly may also lose one of his goalkeepers to Nantwich Town, with the Dabbers currently running the rule over Danny Read and Wayne Capper.

He said: 'It's frustrating to think we might lose players like that when we have given them their chance in Saturday football, but we would wish them all the best and be pleased to have played a part in helping them to play at a higher level.

'It's just a bit of a shame that we won't get anything for it.'

Crewe continue their build-up with a trip to Lostock Gralam this Saturday.