Former Carlisle United defender Kelvin Mellor says he had been eager to rejoin home-town club Crewe Alexandra for some time.

The experienced right-back last week signed a 12-month deal with the Railwaymen.

It will see the 31-year-old up against the Blues in 2022/23 with Crewe having been relegated from League One.

He is the first of eight released Carlisle players to get fixed up with a new club.

And Mellor said he was eager to make the move.

“When the opportunity arose I thought, ‘I’ve got to take it’,” he said in a club interview.

“The season has just finished, but it was like a weekend thing. I’ve been trying to get back for a little while now and it just happened over the weekend.

“I was absolutely delighted when I got the phone call [saying] that the manager wanted to do it.

“I wanted to put pen to paper straight away.”

Crewe finished bottom of the third tier last season and Mellor says the club will be targeting promotion.

“It means a lot to me to be here,” added the player who started his professional career with the Railwaymen.

“I’ve had a few promotions, which definitely helps, and I’ll give my guidance and help wherever I can on and off the pitch to try and make things better around the place and hopefully help to bring success.”

Mellor made 25 appearances for United last term after joining from Morecambe in August.

But he was informed by Paul Simpson at the end of the campaign that he was not being retained.

Former Bradford City, Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle and Morecambe man Mellor was released by United along with Lewis Alessandra, Danny Devine, Mark Howard, Jamie Devitt, Manasse Mampala, Rod McDonald and Gime Toure, though Devitt has been invited back for pre-season training at Brunton Park.

READ MORE: Paul Simpson hoping for more signings soon at Carlisle United