Dario Gradi takes charge of Crewe for the final time at Hartlepool on Sunday

Dario Gradi insists that new Crewe Alexandra manager Gudjon Thordarson is the right man for the job.

Thordarson will take charge of the Alex on Tuesday, succeeding Steve Holland who was relieved of his duties as first-team coach in November.

Caretaker boss Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke: "We were looking for someone who has got promotion from the lower leagues and Gudjon has done that.

"He's a passionate football man who will do a thorough job."

Former Stoke City, Barnsley and Notts County boss Thordarson inherits a Crewe side lying bottom of League One, nine points from safety.

Gradi said the Icelander is faced by a huge task and that the club's fans need to have realistic expectations.

"We've a lot of fairly new supporters who believe we should still be in the Championship.

"That's not a realistic objective. If I thought we could be in the top half of the Championship I would have taken the job on myself.

THE ICELANDER IN ENGLAND - Gudjon Thordarson's record Stoke, Nov 1999-May 2002 154 games, won 77, lost 38 Barnsley, Jun 2003-Mar 2004 42 games, won 14, lost 13 Notts Co, May 2005-Jun 2006 50 games, won 13, lost 21

"The supporters have to come to terms with the fact that football has changed, but the club is healthy and well run," said Gradi.

Meanwhile Crewe have extended the loans of defender Dennis Lawrence (Swansea City) and Kenny Lunt (Sheffield Wednesday) until the end of the season.

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