Striker Pope signs new Crewe deal

Pope has scored five league goals for Crewe this season

Crewe striker Tom Pope has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the Alexandra Stadium until the summer of 2011.

Pope had previously been offered a 12-month extension but the deal has now been renegotiated.

First team coach Steve Holland told BBC Radio Stoke: "We've made an adjustment and Tom is happy with the deal.

"He is a player that encapsulates what the club are about and we are delighted that he has signed the contract."

Pope, 23, joined the Alex from non-league Biddulph Victoria in 2006 and is the club's leading scorer this season with five goals.

"Tom has worked very hard to have come from Biddulph Victoria to turn himself into a League One striker," said Holland.

"He would be the first to acknowledge he still has work to do, but are pleased he has decided to continue his development here."

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke earlier this week, Pope said: "I'd like to stay with Crewe, I'm learning and improving all the time, they've bought me on this far and I don't see why I can't go further."

A former window-fitter, Pope joined the Railwaymen after an unsuccessful trial at Port Vale, the club he supported as a youngster.

Despite being the top scorer at the Alexandra Stadium, Pope has had to be content with a place on the bench in recent weeks and said that not being in the starting XI is frustrating.

"I feel like I've being playing well so it's even more frustrating not to be in the team.

"I've got to keep my head down and hopefully get back in the side and get more goals."