CREWE manager Steve Davis has said he wants to sign stuck-in-limbo Wanderers defender Anthony Stewart - but his chairman will have the final say.

Wanderers would be entitled to a much-needed cash boost if he does sign as the League One strugglers would have to stump up a fee for the 22-year-old central defender, who was described as being stuck "in the wilderness" by Davis.

Stewart, who turned down a new contract with Blues in the summer, has been training with the Alex in recent weeks and Davis this week formally declared his interest in signing the player.

His chairman John Bowler and the club's directors would have to sanction the move and it remains unclear if Stewart would be able to sign in January or have to wait until the summer.

The situation is likely to be clearer once the loan deal for Swansea defender Alan Tate expires in the new year.

Davis told Crewe's official website: "We have had a look at Anthony and he is a promising young player. He is a powerful lad and is still young.

"He has been in the wilderness a bit after rejecting Wycombe’s offer of a new contract. I will speak with the chairman about him because he has done well and has potential but we have enough defenders at the moment.

"That may change in January because we have Tatey up in January and we are not sure yet what Swansea want to do with him or what Al has planned himself.

"We then have a few centre-halves out of contract in the summer, so that is something we have to look at going forward. We will have to make a decision on a few of them but that is something that is always on going here.

"I’ve already spoken to the chairman about the nucleus of the team for next season and discussed some of the decisions we will have to make."