Steve Holland will travel to Bulgaria this week (Getty)

Crewe Alexandra are investigating the possibility of a pre-season training camp in Bulgaria and a friendly against local opposition.

First-team coach Steve Holland will visit FC Maritsa, who play in the Bulgarian second division, to decide whether the facilities are suitable.

Holland told BBC Radio Stoke: "It's not something I would have done, but the opportunity has presented itself to us.

"I'm flying out there to check the facilities are up to scratch."

The links between Crewe and FC Maritsa can be traced to the Bulgarian club's wealthy owner, who is also an Alexandra fan.

Holland added: "He's offered us the chance to bring a squad of players out, and he would look after us while we were there.

"We'd also get the chance to play FC Maritsa at some stage, so it's a more attractive pre-season than we would have had in England.

"It's something for the players, and some of the supporters, to look forward to."

FC Maritsa have a proud history, and list one of Bulgaria's most famous footballers, Hristo Stoichkov, among their former players.