Brams ready to stay, or just false hopes?

David Brammer is out of contract in the summer after 3 fantastic years at Crewe. Signing from Port Vale for £500,000 he instantly became a fans hero at the Alex with his tough tackling inspirational appearances he put in week in week out.

After three excellent years of service Brammer, looked free to leave on a free this summer but Dario says that a good deal will be offered to him, but not as luxury as his current deal - which puts him top of the wage bill, just ahead of Dean Ashton.

In last nights shareholders meeting, also attended by supporters of the club, Dario revealed that Brammer will be put on the transfer list if he asks or he can play the rest of the season and mull over a new Crewe contract at a later date... "Dave has a choice to go on the transfer list now and we accept a reasonable fee for him or he can play the season out and we will try and offer him the best we can."

The team captain is currently recovering from a pelvis operation, one he's needed for 2 years, and if Brammer was to be put up on the transfer list it's unlikely he'll have many clubs after him, as he's only played 12 games so far this season.

We've all seen how much the team needs him and after much flack of Brams not signing a contract it now seems he never had one to sign in the first place.

Brammer is adored by the Alex faithful but does he adore us? At the age of 29 he can't go out and sign for another club at the drop of a hat, with only Crewe having little compensation, he may though, if he wishes, sign a pre-contract with another team and sign fully in the summer. He faces the choice of staying put with a club that love him to be here and knowing he'll be captain and in the starting line up for the forseeable future but is that enough to take a pay cut?

He knows the contract Dario offers in the summer will be the best Dario can offer, Crewe aren't a club who would even gamble with just an extra penny from behind the fridge. He probably knows that there are clubs, not necessarily a better club or team, who will be able to offer him better wages but would he be guareteed a place in the team?

We face a anxious wait till the summer to see if Brammer puts his heart before his bank balance, or maybe he'll just want to up and go now. We've seen how his absence affects us immensely and for him to go would be a huge loss, fingers crossed he's staying.