by Steve Shaw

CREWE assistant-manager Neil Baker hopes the club's managerial appointment will not spell the end of his long association with the club.

The Alex are believed to be close to appointing their new boss and could make an announcement before the Boxing Day clash with Oldham.

Crewe's current number two admits he is in the dark about his own future, but, having given more than 18 years' loyal service, he hopes to be part of the new set-up.

Baker, who is on a 12-month rolling contract, said: "I haven't been given any assurances. When somebody comes in, whoever it is, will decide whether to bring in their own staff or work with the staff already here.

"I hope to stay because I've been here for more than 15 years and it's been a great club to work for.

"I would look forward to working with the manager. I'd be pleased to carry on."

Baker joined the club in 1994, replacing Brian Eastick as Dario Gradi's number two.

Following a brief stint as caretaker boss in 2003, he became assistant to Steve Holland when he took the reins in the summer of 2007.

The main contenders to replace Holland, who left his post last month, are former Stoke boss Gudjon Thordarson and ex-Carlisle manager John Ward.

Baker said he would welcome the challenge of working with an external appointment and the fresh ideas they would bring, while contributing his own experience and knowledge of the club.

He added: "I would like to think I can be a big help to the new manager. And with the experience Dario and myself bring, if I was the new man, I would want to use that."

Baker says Holland's successor will find a set of players boosted with confidence following the club's recent upturn in results.

He also believes the incumbent will be "pleasantly surprised" by the strength of the squad despite the club's lowly league position. Although Baker says the new boss will make his own assessment and may opt to strengthen during the January transfer window.

With Crewe lying at the foot of League One, and seven points adrift of safety, the former Leek Town boss says survival is the top priority.

But he added: "Whoever comes in knows if they keep us up they will be a hero, and if they don't, he can point to the position when he came."

Yesterday, chairman John Bowler said the process to make an appointment was ongoing.

Bowler said: "I can confirm that a board meeting took place over the weekend. We are progressing the issues as fast as we can in appointing a new manager."