Michael Nottingham: Why I had to get away from Blackpool

The full-back’s switch to League Two Crewe Alexandra was working well before the football shutdown – his 12 appearances for the Railwaymen doubled his tally for the Seasiders in the first half of the season.

Brought to Bloomfield Road by Gary Bowyer in the summer of 2018, the 31-year-old featured in the majority of Pool’s League One fixtures in his first season as an EFL player.

However, Birmingham-born Nottingham felt he was denied opportunities this season under Grayson – he last played for Blackpool in October and has not featured in League One since August.

Nottingham told The Gazette: “I had numerous conversations with him (Grayson) but it was always the same sort of stuff.

“He just told me what I wanted to hear basically, just to keep me quiet and keep me onside.

“He was saying things like, ‘You’re not far behind’ and ‘You’re unlucky’ – the same sort of things.

“I just had to keep my head down, keep working hard in training and just hope I would get my chance but it just didn’t come.

“When January came, I honestly didn’t know whether I wanted to move as I had never moved clubs during the season.

“But I felt like I had to do it because the club were bringing more players in during the transfer window and I felt that was going to push me even further back, so I had to get out and get some games somewhere else.”

And the gamble was paying off, with Nottingham quickly becoming a regular in David Artell’s Alex side.

“I’ve gone to Crewe and I’ve loved it,” he added. “I’ve fitted in well there and played every minute. I’m actually able to show what I can do week in, week out.

“I think I’m seen as one of the senior players there as well, having turned 30, so that’s a good feeling as well.

“They’ve got a lot of technically-gifted players . It’s a really good set-up and I’m really happy I went there.”