John Brayford joined Crewe from Burton Albion in September 2008

Crewe defender John Brayford says that the return of Neil Baker to the Alex coaching staff has pleased the squad.

Baker, assistant to previous managers Dario Gradi and Steve Holland, was frozen out of the managerial set-up by Icelander Gudjon Thordarson.

But Baker has now been brought back into the fold by interim manager Gradi, following Thordarson's dismissal.

"Dario said he is a wise head and he knows how to get the best out of people," Brayford told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's a proper man's man, a real genuine person. He'll always give his all and I think that's why everyone likes him."

Baker managed Leek Town in the early 1990s before being added to the coaching staff at Gresty Road by Gradi.

He has been credited with spotting talented players from non-league football, such as former Burton defender Brayford, who have later gone on to achieve success with Crewe in the Football League.

The Stoke-born full-back, who won the club's player-of-the-year award in his first season with the Alex, was linked with a move to Championship side Derby County in the summer.

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