Dundee United have agreed a deal to sign Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Dave Richards, as per Pete O’Rourke.
Crewe Alexandra are gearing up for another year in League Two following play-off heartbreak last season.
Crewe Alexandra managed to defeat the odds to come from behind in the semi final, but Crawley Town had too much for them at Wembley and another year in the fourth tier awaits
They finished 6th, just inside the play-offs, and will be hoping for a similar top seven finish next time out.
Richards, 30, spent last season on loan in Scotland. He was used as a backup for St. Johnstone and didn’t make an appearance.
Reports broke last month linking Richards with a move to Dundee United, and now it has been claimed a deal has been agreed.
The right move
Richards is unlikely to feature much for Crewe Alexandra next season. The 30-year-old would likely once again be second choice and it is for that reason a move away makes sense.
He does still have another year left on his current deal, so the League Two outfit will bring in a transfer fee for this one and that money could be used to bolster another area of the squad.
Crewe Alexandra will need a new goalkeeper though. They will be losing Richards and their shot stoppers from last season were just on loan.
It is likely they will use some of the money from the Richards deal to sign a permanent number one this summer.
A good servant
Richards joined Crewe Alexandra in 2015. He has made 93 appearances for the Railwaymen since joining and he has been a long-standing part of their dressing room.
He will be a miss around the club, but they proved last season that they could handle things without his presence so there is no doubt they will be fine without him next year.
The experienced goalkeeper came through the academy at Cardiff City before moving to Bristol City where he spent just one year before signing for Crewe Alexandra. During his nine years at the club he has experience in both League One and Two.
It will be interesting to see who the Railwaymen target to replace Richards and whether Richards manages to secure consistent game time north of the border next season.
