The Division 1 club said on Friday that a shortage of forwards at Gresty Road meant that the 22-year-old forward would not be released.

On Thursday it was revealed that the striker, who has little League experience, was a loan target of Mansfield manager Billy Dearden during the January transfer window.

• Gain loss, praying on Pope!

However, Crewe this week had a £175,000 bid for highly rated non league forward Stuart Fleetwood rejected.

And on Friday Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker said the player, who last played for the Alex as a substitute at the end of October, was going nowhere for now.

Baker said: "While Mansfield would take Tom tomorrow, we can't do that at the moment because of the numbers we have got up front."

But there is hope for the Stags and Dearden, as Crewe plan to bring in another striker on loan, Burnley's Steve Jones. The former Alex player seems set to return once Burnley have sorted out their own attacking plans, with the Clarets star striker Andy Gray possibly on the move.

On Thursday it was also reported that Dearden had missed out on another transfer target, Peter Gain, who signed for Dagenham.

The manager revealed his frustration at failing to bring in new players, saying he was being hampered by being unable to offer prospective players 18-month contracts.

But chief executive Stephen Booth said that would be 'financial suicide for the club'.

• 18-month contracts would be 'financial suicide'

He told Chad: "I am very wary of saddling the club with long-term liabilities without a clear idea of which League the club will be playing in next season."